Apologies to subscribers who received multiple emails of July 20th’s post. I had a WordPress issue after changing timezones and didn’t realise the post had gone until after my third try…
Just as Macdonald’s came into being to solve a particular food problem at a particular time, so too did the dreaded Cup Noodles…
As Ando was passing by a black market area near Osaka Station one day, he happened to see people form a long line in the cold at a makeshift stall to wait for a bowl of ramen noodles. The sight reminded Ando of how much Japanese people like noodles and at the same time filled him with conviction that the long line was a sign of enormous hidden demand. At that time, the government of Japan was recommending that people consume meals prepared using American surplus wheat. However, these meals consisted almost entirely of bread or biscuits, and Ando questioned why the government didn’t recommend noodles, a favorite dish of the Japanese that could be made from the same wheat.
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In a shed he built in the backyard of his home, Ando began research into “Ramen that can be quickly prepared and eaten at home with only hot water.” He cobbled together all the tools and materials used for the project himself and conducted non-stop development alone for an entire year, without taking a single day of rest and sleeping only four hours a night on average. Each day was a desperate struggle.
Ando set five development objectives. The first and most important was that the noodles must have a delicious taste that people would not grow tired of. Next, they must be non-perishable so they can be stored in household kitchens. They must also be quick and easy to prepare, and furthermore, must be inexpensive. Finally, they must be safe and sanitary.Nissin Foods – Our Founder
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