Take our user survey and make your voice heard.
No more pick-and-mix cups, cones or parfaits of tantalizingly delicious Häagen-Dazs ice cream will be available in Japan after Thursday, when the last of the well-known brand’s outlets is scheduled to close.
Though you’ll no longer be able mix your favorite flavors into a cup of scrumptiousness at a Häagen-Dazs-branded shop, the purveyor of pleasurable experiences (or so the ads tell us) will continue to sell pre-packaged offerings at convenience stores and supermarkets throughout the country.
So I can still get Häagen-Dazs at the supermarket, what’s the big deal you ask? Well, the brick-and-mortar locations carried flavors and creations not available in off-the-shelf form.
If you want to get your last fix of store-original creamy stuff, head to the brand’s last shop in Shin-Urayasu, Chiba, where they are having a cup-of-three-favorites-for-500-yen special through Thursday. For an additional 100 yen, you can a whipped cream topping.
Häagen-Dazs will continue to operate a location at the Gotemba Premium Outlet Mall; however, it only sells pre-packaged servings at discounted prices; no sundaes, cones, or other store-only creations are available.
Häagen-Dazs says supermarkets and convenience stores account for the bulk of its sales in Japan.
If you need your ice cream in a waffle cone or served with a side of brownies, not to worry; Baskin-Robins, Cold Stone Creamery, Blue Seal, and Ben & Jerry’s are still around and more than happy to provide a fix for your cravings.
Diehard fans shouldn’t give up hope, however, as other global brands such as Wendy’s and Burger King have all picked up stakes at one point, only to make comebacks a few years later.
Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Another Reason Why I Love Japan: You Get a Block of Dry Ice When Ordering Ice Cream To-Go -- ‘Cream of Corn Soup’ Flavored Ice Cream Bar Fit for a Fancy Restaurant -- Cold Stone Japan Creates Christmas Cake That Pops the Question
© RocketNews24
23 Comments
Login to comment
some14some
...but why?
Cortes Elijah
Good question some14some. What a useless article, it doesn't tell us why they are closing??? I never ate there, and I've never eaten one of their ice creams...but still makes me sad to see a company leaving country.
Moderator
Readers, please note that the brand is not leaving the country.
taj
Readers, please note that the brand is not leaving the country.
Yes, buy why?
Moderator
No mystery. As the story says, the company makes most of its sales from supermarkets and convenience stores, rather than its own stores.
Virtuoso
I can remember their branch on the corner near Gaienmae, which in the early 1980s -- the pre Bubble era -- had long queues of OLs lined up out-of-doors for a table in mid-February. Same for Hobsen's in Nishi-Azabu. Well folks, that's what happens when the novelty wears off.
Nessie
And dazs all she wrote.
Himajin
Kobe's Haagen closed about a year and a half ago, but I didn't think anything of it. Foreign restaurants and fast food places have a poor track record here. We've had, and lost, Tony Roma's, Arby's, A&W, Cinnabon and others over the years. We now have BQ, and I hope they stick around.
smithinjapan
Ah, sad. I have some fond memories of the Haagen Das shop in Osaka city on dates and what not. Well, what can you do?
Cortes Elijah
Man I'll have to take my wife here before it closes!
Carcharodon
considering that Haagen Dazs is pretty pricey in the Conbeni and supermarket, perhaps their prices in the retail outlets was just too high? Just guessing. People have less and less money for such luxuries these days.
These days people want want to sit down and leach some free wi-fi. Haagan Dazs needed to re-invent itself. Sit down locations, sell some good coffee too and the wi-fi. Could work (or could've worked)
thkanner
why closing? cos people dont have easy money anymore. ice cream rip off anyway. do you guys even know what it cost to produce ice cream? almost nothing... i sold ice cream infront of my families bakery in germany when i was young. cost me about 10cent to make one scoop and i sold it for 1dollar. and they sell for even more....
ebisen
That's way over the top - better than your average 100 yen ice cone, yes, but nothing Oh So Special...
Dennis Bauer
@Himajin Yes but i don't understand, why it closed, it was always packed
Magnet
All the way out in Chiba?!? No wonder they're closing down. Talk about poor location planning.
SuperLib
Well played.
Seems the company could have kept a few stores open to advertise the brand, even if they took a loss.
sincerely999
Haagen-Dazs seems to be a little bit luxury ice cream of its rich taste and price. I am not dislike such a cold sweets. Especially during the summer season, the delicious ice creams will be needed by many people to satisfy their appetite. And me too!
Kobuta Chan
Please, come to Melbourne. We miss Häagen-Dazs since we move to Melbourne 15 years ago.
ymkmym
Why?
This suffices, I think.
waltery
No loss, it's not worth the price.
Himajin
When my son was small, he dubbed it 'Hage Dance' ;-D
kurisupisu
Closing in Japan but outlets are increasing in China! Japan is not what it used to be ne....
PT24881
No sweet deals here ?