For the first time in history, global demand for instant noodles declined, falling by 0.8% in 2023. Japan’s Nissin Foods has managed to defy this trend.
TOKYO, JAPAN (The CTP News) – According to data from the World Instant Noodles Association, the total global consumption of instant noodles was 120.21 billion servings this year, down from 121.2 billion servings in the previous year. This decrease is attributed to the resurgence in dining out post-pandemic, which has impacted sales in major markets such as China, Japan, and the United States. Despite the overall downturn in the market, Japan’s Nissin Foods has managed to defy this trend. The company reported a 5.5% increase in revenue, further solidifying its leading position in the global instant noodle industry.
Although global demand for instant noodles fell, demand for cup noodles bucked the trend and increased by 1.4%, reaching 26.92 billion servings. The only markets with a demand for cup noodles exceeding 1 billion are China (including Hong Kong, with 12.72 billion servings) and Japan (3.88 billion servings). With its diverse cup noodles products and promotional activities, Nissin Foods has attracted consumers seeking convenience and delicious taste, making it a daily meal deeply embedded in Japanese food culture.
Nissin Foods’ report shows that the company’s sales of cup instant noodles, bagged instant noodles, and cup rice products have increased. Although rising raw material prices led to higher costs, sales growth boosted operating profits. Nissin Food’s revenue reached 232.221 billion yen, a year-on-year increase of 5.5%; Operating Income reached 29.741 billion yen, a year-on-year increase of 11.0%.
In addition, a consumer survey by the Japanese marketing website J-marketing-net showed that Nissin Food’s CUPNOODLE ranked first in indicators such as awareness, purchase experience, recent purchase volume, and future purchase intention. Compared with the second-placed “Red Fox/Green Raccoon (Toyo Suisan)” and “Nissin Bowl Kitsune Udon,” Nissin cup noodles have a clear market lead of more than 15 points.
Nissin Food Group’s CUPNOODLE MUSEUM is also very popular among tourists in Osaka, Yokohama, and Hong Kong branches. The museum displays the history and invention of instant noodles and provides experience activities for making homemade noodles and cup noodles. It has attracted more than 20 million visitors since its opening.
