Weekly New products news November 6th to 12th
We pick up and deliver information on new products with local insights. Based on mognavi.jp, we saw new 379 skus between 6th tp 12th november. This week it is seen lots of seasonal new products. Convenience stores in Japan are always great place to watch new products trend because national brands start selling innovative products , new flavors firstly for convenience stores to check market. Let’s begin!
1USD=151.5JPY
Ministop convenience store launch Melting fondant chocolate
Source:Ministop website
| Product name | Melting fondant Chocolate |
| Brand | MINISTOP |
| Category | Delicatessen |
| Size | 1 single serve cup |
| Producer | N/A |
| Price | 360JPY (without tax) /2.39USD |
| Concept | Made with “60 Days Chocolate” from Vietnam. Combination of cold soft-serve ice cream vanilla and warm fondant chocolate. |
| How to eat | Consume as it is |
| Launch date | November 10th, 2023 |
| Trend | Premium, Fresh, Real ingredients, Indulgent, Exciting texture, sustainable, Fair trade, Story |
INSIGHTS
For big retailers, it is now more common for chocolate to be fair trade. To differentiate itself, MINISTOP offers ’60 Days Chocolate,’ made from cocoa harvested within 60 days. This way, customers can experience the freshness and authenticity of the ingredients directly from the farmer.
In Japan, people like the mix of textures, combining cold vanilla ice cream with hot chocolate. With the expectation that this winter will be warmer in history, retailers will likely sell more ice-related products, offering indulgent and personalized options.
Lowson convenience stores launch new sweets under Uchi Café brand.
Source: LOWSON website, Martner Japan market reserch
Lawson Co., Ltd. launched its new dessert brand, ‘Uchi Café SWEETS,’ on September 29, 2009, unifying all original desserts under this new brand. This brand became a big hit, led by the famous Japanese brand producer YOKO SHIBATA.
Targeting Women in Their 20s and 30s
In the past bout 60% of customers purchasing Lawson’s desserts were for male. To appeal to a broader audience, the new brand “Uchi Café SWEETS” focuses on women in their 20s to 30s who have a high interest in desserts. Concept and product development have been tailored to this demographic.
Transforming “Home” into a Café with “Uchi Café SWEETS”
Lawson’s customer survey says that women in their 20s to 30s enjoy desserts in the evening amid busy work and childcare schedules. With the concept of “Anytime, your home becomes a café,” Lawson aims to provide the authentic taste and relaxed atmosphere of a café easily at home or work.
INSIGHTS
Lawson Convenience store is one of the leaders in the retail industry to make changes in the chilled dessert ranges to be more exciting. Now, it is a trend and standard to see cafe similar desserts for women. Big brands and private brands from CVS, GMS, and SM are trying to stand out in this competitive category, using unique flavors, special ingredients, and textures.
| Product name | CHEWY DORAYAKI(Sweet potato) |
| Brand |
Private brand Uchi Café |
| Category | Chilled dessert |
| Size | 1 unit |
| Producer | MONTEUR CO., LTD. |
| Price | 208JPY (without tax)/1.37USD |
| Concept | Layered with sweet potato paste and sweet potato creamBy incorporating ‘nagaimo’ into the dough’s ingredients and achieving a thickness of approximately 5mm, the thinnest in the history of Lawson’s original sweets dorayaki, we create a dough with a delightful chewy texture. |
| How to eat | Consume as it is |
| Launch date | November 7th, 2023 |
| Trend | Premium, Fresh, Indulgent, Exciting texture, Always-on, |
| Product name | CHEWY DORAYAKI(Sweet potato) |
| Brand |
Private brand Uchi Café |
| Category | Chilled dessert |
| Size | 1 unit (about 80g) |
| Producer | Yamazaki Baking Co., Ltd. |
| Price | 218JPY(without tax)/1.43USD |
| Concept |
Dive into the rich and light texture of a choux cream that layers two types of chestnut cream, allowing you to fully savor the flavors of autumn. Rich topping of marron chocolate and ragged almonds |
| How to eat | Consume as it is |
| Launch date | November 7th, 2023 |
| Trend | Premium, Fresh, Indulgent, Exciting texture, Always-on, |
Source:Lowson website
| Product name | Flavorless? Gum |
| Brand | LOTTE |
| Category | Candy |
| Size | 18g |
| Producer | LOTTE Co., Ltd. |
| Price | 137JPY(without tax)/0.90USD |
| Concept | You can keep eating it silently. By changing the formula of the “gum base” from regular gum, you can enjoy a firm chewing experience |
| How to eat | Consume as it is |
| Launch date | November 7th, 2023 |
| Trend | New experience, Exciting texture, Always-on, |
INSIGHTS
Japan is a best-in-class country for exploring functional, flavor, and texture uniqueness in the candy category. This year, we have seen many new products in the candy and gummy market, including flavorless candies such as water-flavored gummies.
This Lotte Flavorless? Gum is described as the taste of nothingness. Some say it offers a philosophical flavor that becomes more like emptiness the more you chew. During the COVID pandemic, wars, declining birthrates, and unimproving deflation, Generation Z or Millennials are seeking products that embody purity and nothingness