Photo: grape Japan
new products

Individually wrapped potato chips now on store shelves

10 Comments
By grape Japan

"Even though they're potato chips, they're individually wrapped!"

The fact that Japanese chips brand Koikeya puts this phrase at the top of their press release for their new 濃いじゃが koijaga (literally "dense potato") anchovy and olive flavored chips indicates that they consider this an attention-grabbing and appealing feature.

However, while some readers may raise their eyebrows at the idea of individually wrapping potato chips in plastic, it should be noted that there are only 10 of them per bag.

This may still seem unreasonable, but Koikeya cites several reasons behind their decision to develop this new product.

To begin with, Koikeya explains that the novel coronavirus pandemic has changed consumer behavior and it's more common to hear opinions such as "I'm more concerned about hygiene now," and "I prefer snacks that can be individually distributed to others." Koikeya's own surveys also revealed that the need for hygienic "individual packaging" is expanding.

Moreover, the diversification of work styles and changes in the social environment have brought about significant changes in the daily eating habits of Japanese people. Young people, in particular, are moving away from the traditional style of eating three meals at fixed times of the day. As the boundary between full meals, light meals and snacks becomes more blurred, Koikeya saw an opportunity to develop a denser, larger, and more filling type of potato chip. In fact, they consider Koijaga to be a "new genre" of "high-density potato chips."

Since they're individually wrapped, you don't need to eat the whole bag at one sitting and they'll stay fresh longer. It's also convenient for sharing with friends and family or for snacking at work. Finally, holding them by their wrappers is not only hygienic but lets you keep your fingers clean.

Koijaga_2.jpg

When it's time to eat one, you'll appreciate "the multilayered texture created by the overlapping of potato pieces which makes for a satisfyingly crunchy texture, the rich flavor of the anchovies and olives which impart a luxurious taste, and the parsley and red bell pepper flakes which add color and a vibrant appearance."

If you're interested, you'll find 濃いじゃが アンチョビオリーブ Koijaga Anchovy and Olive on store shelves in Tokyo as well as Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, and Kanagawa prefectures. You'll also be able to buy them from that date at the KOIKEYA Online Store.

Read more stories from grape Japan.

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© grape Japan

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

10 Comments
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Individually wrapped food should not be allowed anymore. It's an environmental nonsense.

14 ( +16 / -2 )

How Japanese. A waste of resources, money and effort and an increase in garbage.

Koikeya explains that the novel coronavirus pandemic has changed consumer behavior

Those consumers are ignorant. The virus is hardly ever transmitted on surfaces, it's nearly always thru respiratory droplets.

12 ( +16 / -4 )

And I thought that individually wrapped cookies were an unnecessary and annoying waste of resources and easily preventable source of garbage.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

The pandemic enabled an already widespread hypochondria in Japan. I predict the masks will never go away, and we'll see more of this eco-absurdity as companies feel emboldened to exploit people's fears (and hopeless addiction to "convenience").

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Sleight of hand shrinkflation/premiumisation.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

What's next? Individually wrapped grains of rice?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

This should not be happening in this day and age of single-use plastics contaminating the rivers and oceans.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Project Fear worked way too well in Japan. Everyone else has gone back to normal. All of this plastic-powered hygiene, hypochondria and desire to never touch others is going to have some disturbing psychological consequences.

Sell stuff in fewer, larger resealable bags to reduce plastic use, and stop all the crazy stuff.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I'll definitely avoid buying this and other Koikeya products because of their total disregard for the environment.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

A total waste of materials. is there going to be little bottles with just one drop of drink next?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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