Retort Curry Industry] Too Easy, Too Delicious! The “400-yen barrier” has been broken down, and the hot battle for authentic taste is on!
House Foods, the "industry leader," Otsuka Foods, the oldest "Bon Curry," S.B., a "famous restaurant collaboration," 36 Chambers of Spice, a brave newcomer in the high price range, MUJI, which does not put its products in boxes, etc.
Like Nakamuraya, MUJI’s mainstay products are those priced at 300 yen or more.
Its “Butter Chicken Curry,” for example, is an authentic curry with a strong spice flavor that has many fans. The company responsible for the production is Nishiki Foods, which makes the 5,000 yen curry that Mr. Fujii ate. Since this company is known for its technological prowess in creating a variety of products from low to high price ranges, the taste of MUJI products has also evolved over the years.
What makes Nishiki Foods and MUJI’s retort-pouch curry unique is that there is no box; it is a pouch. Moreover, it is designed to stand alone. This eliminates the risk of the box being damaged during transport and disposed of, thereby reducing food loss and costs. Currently, other companies are following this trend and timing the elimination of the box,” says retort curry researcher Kokiaki Metsurima.
While the high-priced product has established a firm position, Bon Curry has not been able to become as absolute as Nissin’s “Cup Noodle” in the cup noodle industry.
However, Otsuka Foods, utilizing the sales channels of its group company Otsuka Pharmaceutical, succeeded in placing health-conscious products on the shelves of dispensing pharmacies, such as the “My Size” series, which claims to be low in salt and calories. By dominating an area that other manufacturers cannot penetrate, the company is still competing for top market share.
