The Korean instant noodle industry is jumping on the ¡°well-being¡± bandwagon, with two producers launching a healthier kind of Ramen on Thursday. The new product from market leader Nongshim contains no monosodium glutamate, or MSG, and unlike ordinary Ramen is made with un-fried noodles. Nongshim is confident that the new pot noodles will become the company¡¯s leading product and revitalize congealing sales. Samyang, the second-ranked producer, also released a new MSG-free product, though the noodles are fried.
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Two new MSG-fee Ramen products launched by Nongshim (left) and Samyang
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The stagnant Korean Ramen market, worth some W1.5 trillion (US$1=W935), is expected to get a boost from the new MSG-free, low-sodium and un-fried noodles.
Koreans¡¯ average yearly instant noodle consumption in 2005 was 75 packs, the most in the world, according to the International Ramen Manufacturers Association. From humble beginnings in the 1960 with only W30 million, the market has grown exponentially. Shrink-wrapped Ramen accounted for the largest part of the total sales, or W1.05 billion a year, followed by instant cup Ramen and un-fried Ramen products which saw W415 billion and W30 billion in sales.
But the growth curve has slowed in recent years, and Ramen manufacturers are looking at trouble as more and more consumers worry about fat, sodium and other additives in instant noodles. Nongshim staff admit they had no choice but to sell more un-fried Ramen, which have 25 percent less calories than the fried variety, to meet consumer tastes.
But consumers pay a higher price for healthier instant noodles. The new Nongshim Ramen cost W1,100 and Samyang¡¯s some W850. That is up to double the price of the bestseller Shin Ramyeon, which cost W600. Un-fried Ramen that need cold storage cost up to W2,000. The industry predicts rapid changes. An industry insider says the price difference will divide consumers into two camps, one buying the cheap standard noodles and a section of particular consumers who are concerned about health issues.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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