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Tag: Instant noodles

  • Vietnamese consume over 1,000 tons of instant noodle daily

    Vietnamese consume over 1,000 tons of instant noodle daily

    Over 1,127 tons of instant noodles were consumed a day in Vietnam last year, surging than 20% compared to 2016, according to the UK-based market research firm Euromonitor.

    In 2021, Vietnam consumed about 411,500 tons of instant noodles, up 9% against 2020.

    Total instant noodle sales in the country surpassed VND3.8 trillion (over $153.2 million) in 2021, increasing more than 11% against 2020 and nearly 18% against 2016.

    The research for Euromonitor’s annually-published global instant noodle consumption report is carried out in 80 countries.

    Previously, data from the World Instant Noodles Association (WINA) also showed that Vietnam surpassed South Korea as the world’s highest per capita consumer of instant noodles. On average, every Vietnamese uses 87 packets a year.

    Euromonitor pointed out that Acecook from Japan and Masan from Vietnam are the Vietnamese instant noodle market’s two leading firms, holding a combined market share of 33%.

    Japanese instant noodle market share in Vietnam decreased from nearly 24% in 2017 to over 19% in 2021, while that of Viet

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  • EU warns Vietnamese instant noodle products contain banned substance

    EU warns Vietnamese instant noodle products contain banned substance

    Germany has issued warnings about certain imported Vietnamese instant noodle products that contain heightened levels of ethylene oxide, a banned substance.

    The Vietnam Sanitary and Phytosanitary Notification Authority and Enquiry Point (SPS), under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said it had received warnings from the EU regarding certain instant noodle products exported by Vietnamese businesses.

    Germany issued warnings about a chicken-flavored instant noodle product by Asiafoods Corporation for containing ethylene oxide levels higher than EU standards. Malta meanwhile issued a warning for a pho product by Nguyen Gia because it uses genetically modified rice.

    A representative of the Department of Science and Technology under the Ministry of Industry and Trade said the department is still verifying the food batch that drew warnings in Germany. The batch might have been exported since last year, when batches had yet to be imposed an ethylene oxide limit standard upon export, the representative said.

    Since Feb. 17, the EU has demanded certificate requirements for instant noodle batches imported into the region. These batches would be checked for their ethylene oxide level after export, and so far, no batch has been returned.

    Germany said the ethylene oxide level in the instant noodle products was two to three times the maximum standard allowed, according to the representative. The current ethylene oxide limit as required by the EU is 0.01 milligrams per kilogram.

    In future, the department would take instant noodle product samples from the Vietnamese market to evaluate the presence of ethylene oxide and create a limit standard for the substance.

    Last August, several batches of instant noodle products by Vietnamese businesses were also recalled by the EU for heightened levels of ethylene oxide.

    Ethylene oxide is an organic compound with various applications, including disinfection and sterilization.

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  • Slendier unveils Instant Soybean Noodles range

    Slendier unveils Instant Soybean Noodles range

    Health-food company Slendier has launched Instant Noodles made from soybean and “authentic” seasoning.

    Available online and in Woolworths (RRP $5.25), the low-carb, low-calorie, vegan meal alternative is promoted as the “most nutritionally rich” instant noodles on the market. The product is claimed to be free from oils, chemicals and artificial flavours.

    Slendier Managing Director Erica Hughes says the new range has a host of health benefits compared with other instant noodles and is perfect as a guilt-free snack or meal on the run.

    “There’s no denying regular instant noodle products are a quick and easy solution for many Aussies, but they’re often packed with sodium and have little nutritional value,” she says.

    “At Slendier, we identified a gap in the market to offer people the same convenience, without the nasties.

    “Not only are Slendier’s instant noodles great tasting, but the range has twice as much protein, half as much fat and a third less calories when compared to other instant noodles on the supermarket shelves.”

    Slendier’s noodles are available in the flavours of Masala, Tom Yum and (soon-to-be-released) Vegetable Ramen.

    The flavour, according to Slendier, comes from “real” vegetables that have been washed, dried and ground into a fine powder – one that’s low in salt and entirely plant-based.

    “Paired with Slendier’s innovative nonfried soybean noodles,” says the brand, “it requires no cooking and can be ready in just four minutes.”

    BACKED BY A NUTRITIONIST

    Nutritionist Jacqueline Alwill says the product hits the mark for a filling yet healthy food solution.

    “As a nutritionist, I’m always on the lookout for simple, nourishing, convenient alternatives for meals and snacks and Slendier Instant Noodles definitely tick the box,” she says.

    “They’re high in protein, yet lower in calories, carbs and fats than a traditional instant noodle.

    “Using soybean noodles, Slendier Instant Noodles deliver close to 30g protein and 12g fibre per serve, two important macronutrients to support our body’s growth and repair, gut health and of course to help keep appetite at bay.

    “They’re delicious and ready within four minutes – a perfect snack or meal option for anyone wanting to maximise time and of course great nutrition in their day.”

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  • Instant noodle store an unlikely hit with Thai youth

    Instant noodle store an unlikely hit with Thai youth

    In Thailand, a country famous for its flavourful, spicy cuisine and street food, instant noodles may seem an unlikely culinary hit.

    But for teenagers like Ratchadaporn Krongngam, a store that stocks more than 70 types of instant noodles from across Asia and allows you to cook and eat them immediately is an experience worth savouring.

    Since Good Noodle opened in Union Mall in Chatuchak district of Bangkok last October, it has seen thousands of young customers browse its bright orange shelves for noodles from Indonesia, South Korea, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

    “This is my third visit. I love it here because I wanted to try out new and different kinds of instant noodles as I want to know how all of them taste,” said Ratchadaporn, 18.

    Customers often dine in the store, where they can cook their own three-minute meal, which costs between 6 and 250 baht.

    Customer Sirayakorn Charoenthat, 18, said the prices were reasonable for students compared to eating at restaurants.

    Instant noodles are hugely popular in several Asian countries because of their taste, versatility, convenience, and low price. But health experts warn against consuming too much highly processed food because it lacks key nutrients.

    Instant noodles are cooked from a self-automated machine at Good Noodle. (Photo: Reuters)

    Store’s managing director Ungkool Wongkolthoot said he scoured Bangkok’s convenience stores and supermarkets during the pandemic for all the different types of instant noodles he could find, which turned out to be more than 350.

    With this, he saw a business opportunity.

    “I wanted to give the customers an instant experience with the noodles. Not just buying the noodles from other convenience stores or supermarkets, then forgetting about them at home,” he said.

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  • Instant noodle producers gain from Vietnamese craving

    Instant noodle producers gain from Vietnamese craving

    Noodle companies in Vietnam posted strong figures last year as the country became the third-largest market globally with over 7 billion servings.

    Masan Consumer, which makes Omachi and Kokomi noodles, saw revenues from packaged food, including noodles, rising 38.5 percent from 2019 to nearly VND6.9 trillion ($302 million) last year.

    Sales of Omachi noodles rose 32 percent, with the brand claiming 45 percent of the high-end market. Omachi was also the best-selling noodle brand in supermarkets.

    In the mid-end segment, Kokomi saw sales growing 43 percent to become the best-selling brand in the northern region.

    Masan Consumer continued to post strong figures so far this year with revenue growing 10 percent to VND11 trillion.

    The company expects instant noodles and porridge products to rise double-digit for the whole year.

    Japanese producer Acecook posted revenue of VND11.5 trillion last year, 1.6 times that of Masan Consumer’s packaged food sales.

    The company claims to account for half of Vietnam’s instant noodles market. It forecasts sales to reach 350 million products next year, twice that of 2017.

    Smaller noodle producers also recorded stable figures. HCMC-based Vifon leaders once told press it made around VND200 billion a month.

    Another company, Colusa-Miliket, saw revenue falling 2 percent to VND624 billion last year.

    There are about 50 noodle businesses in Vietnam including foreign companies. The country exports to 40 markets.

    Vietnam became the third-largest instant noodles market with over 7.03 billion servings consumed last year, up two places from a year before.

  • Vietnam world’s third largest instant noodles market

    Vietnam world’s third largest instant noodles market

    Vietnam has become the world’s third-largest instant noodles market with over 7.03 billion servings consumed last year, up two places from a year before.

    This is an increase of 29 percent from 2019 and a new record for the country, according to data from the World Instant Noodles Association (WINA).

    The latest figure means that Vietnam accounted for around 6 percent of instant noodles servings in the world. Each Vietnamese consumed 55.6 servings last year.

    The country ran behind China and Indonesia with 46.35 billion and 12.64 billion servings, respectively.

    India and Japan make up the top five instant noodles consumers in the world.

    The surge in instant noodles consumption in Vietnam has happened as the country dealt with two major Covid-19 outbreaks last year, forcing people to stay at home under social distancing orders.

    Global consumption of instant noodles rose nearly 10 percent in 2020 to 116.56 billion servings, WINA data shows.

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  • Vietnam’s love for instant noodles rises to near-boiling point

    Vietnam’s love for instant noodles rises to near-boiling point

    Vietnamese people consumed more than 4.9 million packs of instant noodles last year, behind China, Indonesia and Japan, new data shows.

    Vienam has held fourth spot since 2012 in the rankings compiled annually by the World Instant Noodle Associations (WINA).

    On a per capita level with a population of over 93 million, the average Vietnamese person gobbled 53 packs of instant noodles in 2016, higher than Indonesians at 49, Japanese at 44 and Chinese people at 38.

    WINA said Vietnam’s instant noodle market recovered last year thanks to more diverse products that offer a wider range of choices for customers.

    Kajiwara Junichi, CEO of noodle producer Acecook Vietnam, said that the company’s revenue from instant noodles rose 5-20 percent during the second half of this year.

    Meanwhile, Masan Consumer and Asia Foods have been suffering from falling revenue.

    The three firms are the three biggest instant noodle producers in Vietnam and make up 70 percent of the domestic market share.

    Last year, The Washington Post cited a South Korean study that pointed out how harmful instant noodles can be for the health.

    “Although instant noodles are a convenient and delicious food, there could be an increased risk for metabolic syndrome given [the food’s] high sodium, unhealthy saturated fat and glycemic loads,” said Hyun Shin, a doctoral candidate at the Harvard School of Public Health and a co-author of the study.

    Doctor Dang Huy Quoc from the Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital told Tuoi Trenewspaper that no studies have concluded that instant noodles can cause cancer, but high consumption of fat and salt can cause cancer and other heart diseases.

    Other experts suggest that people should only eat one or two packs of instant noodles per week.

    Many Vietnamese people are well aware of the harmful effects of instant noodles, but it’s common in Vietnam for people to snack on a pack of instant noodles between breakfast, lunch and dinner.

    The noodles are popular among college students, who often live far from home and lack the facilities to cook themselves a proper meal.

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  • Instant noodles sales slumps in China

    Instant noodles sales slumps in China

    Instant noodles, once an easy meal for millions of Chinese workers, is getting less popular. Workers scrapping instant noodles are seen as a symbol of the chaining lifestyle of the working class. The sales of instant noodles fell 12.5 percent last year. The King of noodles in China, Taiwanese Tingyi, known for its brand Master Kong (Kong Shifu), was evicted from the Hang Seng Index on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in September. Its profits declined by 60 percent last year. According to Bloomberg, this is a classic example of the economic and demographic transition in China.

    Between 2003 and 2008, the instant noodle market has exploded in China, from $ 35 billion to 59 billion yuan ($ 4.7 billion to EUR 7.9 billion). At the time, Chinese growth exceeded 10% of the average (14.2% in 2007). The industry flourished with the boom of construction, heavy industry, and the low-end factories, which needed cheap labor. The coast provinces attracted millions of migrant workers, who relied on these convenient meals.

    Unfortunately for the noodle industry, China has developed. Today, the 25 cents noodle is less exciting. Because of the policy of one-child, the Chinese population of working age began to decline in 2010. And by 2015, for the first time in 30 years, the population of migrants has declined, after having exceeded 250 million.

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