Why Japan’s instant ramen titan is testing a new type of noodle in LA

Nisin Foods, the Japanese giant that brought instant ramen to the world, is testing a new type of noodle in Los Angeles.

Its sprawling, old factory and corporate office in Gardena now churns out protein-rich pasta for Angelenos who want more bang for their bucks.

Nissin invented cup noodles, a go-to food and budget favorite for people around the world. More than 100 billion servings of instant noodles from hundreds of companies are consumed each year.

In the United States, much of Nissin’s growth came from Gardena, where it began producing noodle bowls in the 1970s. In 1973, the company launched Cup Noodles, an innovation aimed at Americans who liked to drink soup from cups.

America’s latest favorite Nisin has taken into account the growing demand for protein among mainstream consumers. It pops up in snack foods, espresso drinks, and breakfast cereals. Even Pop-Tarts and Doritos have released products with added protein.

Nissen has launched a new noodle company in Los Angeles to capitalize on the trend this year. Kanzen Meal Co., which now has about 10 employees, recently began offering nutrient-dense meals from the frozen food aisle. Its products are available in dozens of grocery stores in Southern California.

“There is an interest in nutrient density and people want more bang for their buck from the food they eat,” said Bob Little, CEO of Kanzen Meal. “We think there’s an opportunity to get those consumers back on track.”

Kanzen Meal Shrimp Teriyaki, Spaghetti Bolognese and other products contain up to 24 grams of protein.

Convenience food companies around the world are battling a slowdown in many markets as consumers increasingly avoid highly processed foods. Meanwhile, the spread of Ozympic is making it easier for millions of people to control their appetite and be better about what they consume.

In line with this trend, Nisin shares have fallen about 30% over the past 12 months.

Workers pack noodles along a production line at Nissin’s manufacturing plant in Gardena, California, in 1972.

(Bruce H. Cox/Los Angeles Times)

Nissen, which opened its facility in Gardena in 1972, recently established a new regional center in Torrance, where Kanzen Foods is located. Lots of trying to stay relevant in LA

This month Nessin announced its upcoming launch of a “hot water van” that will tour the United States and distribute samples of instant noodles. For the holiday season, it unveiled both turkey and pumpkin pie-flavored cup noodles.

With the creation of Kanzen cuisine, Nissin sees Los Angeles as an early testing ground for its products.

“We have deep ties to the Los Angeles area and we thought it would be a great market for us to launch,” Little said in an interview. “We realized early on that Los Angeles is a hub of wellness.”

Kanzen food products hit shelves in June at stores like Gilson’s and Bristol Farms. The company has grown rapidly since then, Tate said. The company announced this month that it will expand distribution to stores on the East Coast in states including New York, Connecticut and North Carolina. It plans to have the products in 1,000 stores by the end of the year.

Few attribute the rapid growth to increased consumer demand for easier access to nutrients, particularly in Southern California.

“Canzen Meal Frozen Noodles Available in Dozens of Stores in Southern California”

(kansen food)

Kanzen will introduce two new frozen products this month, including Spicy Dandan Noodles and Spaghetti Carbonara. Each serving contains macronutrients, fat, carbohydrates and fiber and retails for $6.99 to $7.99.

As protein trends increase online and in stores, nutritionists are warning consumers to pay attention to all ingredients in the product. Some with high doses of protein may also contain large amounts of sugar and sodium, experts said.

“The big picture here is that just because something has a lot of protein doesn’t mean it’s healthy for you,” said Yassi Ansari, a registered dietitian and nutritionist based in Los Angeles.

Ansari said the protein boom could actually lead to more busy American consumers. The average woman needs about 46 grams of protein to prevent obesity, and the average man needs 56 grams, she said.

Protein bars typically contain 20 to 30 grams of protein, and newer products like Starbucks Protein Latte can have up to 36 grams.

“Protein is vital for the body’s cells, but we may be missing out on other nutrients that we can get from a complete food profile,” Ansari said.

Little said Kanzen Mail products offer a healthy balance of ingredients. He pointed out, “Kanzen” means complete in the Japanese language.

Retail analyst Dominic Messerandino said demand for protein is creating opportunities for new products, including within the $91.3 billion U.S. frozen food market. But the proliferation of foods advertised as high protein, from toaster pastries to tortilla chips, can mislead consumers, Misrandino said.

“This may give the consumer the wrong impression that having these snacks is always a healthy choice,” he said. “Do you now have a generation of kids eating junk food for their daily protein dose?”