Maruchan
 | |
| 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 |
| Website | Maruchan.com |
Maruchan (マルちゃん) is a Japanese brand of instant ramen noodles and related products produced by Toyo Suisan Kaisha, Ltd 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 San Antonio, Texas.[1] Maruchan produces over 3.6 billion packages of ramen noodle soup a year.
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 and in 1977 began producing Maruchan brand ramen at the Irvine factory. Since 1977 Maruchan has grown steadily and has become an industry leader in North America, alongside other instant noodle brands such as Nissin Top Ramen and Sapporo Ichiban.[2]
Name
Maruchan is a Japanese word composed of two parts, maru and chan. Maru literally 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.[3]
Products
- Instant Ramen
- Udon
- Soba
- Chilled Food
- Instant Lunch
- Yakisoba
Flavors include:
• Chicken Flavor • Chicken Mushroom Flavor • Creamy Chicken Flavor • Roast Chicken Flavor • Picante Chicken Flavor • Beef Flavor • Sriracha Chicken • Picante Beef Flavor • Roast Beef Flavor • Shrimp Flavor • Lime Shrimp Flavor • Lime Chili Shrimp Flavor • Chili Flavor • Chicken Tortilla • Pork Flavor • Oriental Flavor • 35% Less Sodium Chicken Flavor • 35% Less Sodium Beef Flavor • 30% Less Sodium Chili Flavor