Maruchan
Maruchan (マルちゃん, Maru-chan) is a Japanese brand of ramen noodles and related products produced by Toyo Suisan of Tokyo, Japan. The Maruchan brand is used for noodle products in Japan, and as the operating name for Toyo Suisan's division in the United States, Maruchan Inc. In 1972, Toyo Suisan entered the American market with Maruchan USA, and in 1977, established a plant in Irvine, California. Maruchan has other plants in Richmond, Virginia, and one in Bexar County, Texas.[1] Maruchan produces over 3.6 billion packages of ramen noodle soup a year. In the United States and Mexico especially, Maruchan ramen remains widely popular.[2]
Private | |
Industry | Food |
Founded | March 28, 1953 (Japan) 1972 (United States) |
Headquarters | Japan Kōnan, Minato, Tokyo United States Irvine, California Richmond, Virginia |
Products | Maruchan Ramen Instant Lunch Yakisoba |
Parent | Toyo Suisan (Japan) Maruchan Inc. (United States) |
Website | Maruchan.com |
History
Toyo Suisan Kaisha, Ltd of Tokyo, Japan, founded on March 28, 1953, is a consumer packaged foods company in Japan. Toyo Suisan's effort to become an international food company brought them to the United States, where, in 1972, they established Maruchan USA. At first, Maruchan USA was only a marketing company, importing and distributing ramen from Japan. After operating for five years as a distributor of imported products, Maruchan built its own manufacturing facility in Irvine, California, in 1977, where it began producing Maruchan brand ramen. Since 1977 Maruchan has grown steadily and has become an industry leader in North America, alongside other instant noodle brands such as Top Ramen and Sapporo Ichiban.[3]
Name
Maruchan is a Japanese word composed of two parts, maru and chan. Maru means round, as in the shape of a ball or a happy child's face. In Japanese, round has a connotation of friendliness. The word chan is an honorific suffix, used affectionately for a child or as a term of endearment.[4]
Products
International flavors include:
- Beef
- Roast Beef
- Teriyaki Beef
- Picante Beef
- Chicken
- Creamy Chicken
- Chipotle Chicken
- Teriyaki Chicken
- Chicken Mushroom
- Roast Chicken
- Sriracha Chicken
- Picante Chicken
- Chicken Tortilla
- Cheddar Cheese
- Chili
- Chili Piquin & Shrimp
- Shrimp
- Lime Shrimp
- Lime Chili Shrimp
- Hot & Spicy Beef
- Hot & Spicy Chicken
- Hot & Spicy Kimchi
- Hot & Spicy Shrimp
- Instant Wonton Chicken
- Pork
- Soy Sauce (previously marketed as "Oriental")
- Hearty Pork Tonkotsu
- Spicy Miso
- 35% Less Sodium Chicken
- 35% Less Sodium Beef
- 30% Less Sodium Chili
Specialty flavors:
- Texas Beef
- Cajun Chicken
- Cajun Shrimp
- Hot-n-Spicy Vegetable
Discontinued:
- Tomato
- Mushroom
- California Vegetable
- Creamy Alfredo
- Jalapeno Cheddar
See also
- List of instant noodle brands
Food portal
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Maruchan, Inc.. |