The Condensed Vegitable

  One of my favorite joke is this: Japan is such a small country that the price value of the land is extremely expensive and saving space at their house is everyone's concern. In fact, at breakfast in most households in Japan, people drink condensed milk.

  Anyway, I found a very unique product at Grocery corner of Daiei supermarket in Kobe, Japan. That's a frozen condensed vegitables. Have you ever seen similar things in your country?

  Using the product, which is made by Otsuka Foods, Co., Ltd. known as a marketing-savvy company, is very simple and quick. You just boil it with your favorite meal for 3 minutes, then it instantly swells out! (See the interesting animation on their website.) As shown in the pictures below, I cooked a Ramen noodle with the product and the taste of the expanded vegetables such as cabbages, carrots and Komatsunas (Brassica campestris) was quite good!

  This is a perfect example of good products that suit Japanese consumer's taste, which is:

1. Individually packaged products, not in bulk.
2. Small package.
3. Easy-to-open package. No need to use scissors.
4. Time-saving.

  As I always write on this blog, Japanese consumers really demand the high quality of products, but sometimes quality goods are not enough. They demand the smart and best way of packaging as well.

  Depending on the market segment of your products, you need to think carefully how you package your products. Small quantity might be better. Chances are, the packaging you see at America's favorite wholesale warehouses is not the best option when you want to sell the same products to Japan. Yes, the cost per a product will be up, but wouldn't you like to sell at higher price in Japan, would you?