The mom founded brand expands in-store presence nationwide with exclusive first to market sour Mochi flavor gummies
New York, NY November 28, 2023 – Issei Mochi Gummies, the first all natural Mochi gummy brand, announced today the nationwide launch of its Sour Watermelon gummy flavor exclusively available at Sprouts Farmers Market stores. The Sour Watermelon Gummy also is the first of its kind innovation with any sour Mochi product, requiring a specialized and unique development process for the ingredient combination. The one year old company, Mochi Gummies, continues to rapidly expand its national retail footprint with products also available in Whole Foods Market, Raley's, Bestie's Vegan Paradise, The World Bank, The Compass Group and and Hy-Vee, as well as online at Amazon and Mochigummies.com.
Issei Mochi Gummies founder and CEO Mika Shino said, “We’re thrilled to bring the Mochi Gummy experience to more people by entering Sprouts Farmers Market. Our new Sour Watermelon flavor is the first sour mochi of its kind - it took us over 200 iterations to get the flavor and texture just right, since natural acids needed for the sour flavor tends to break down the rice flour in mochi. We are excited for this flavor and this new type of chew to hit the shelves. We are grateful to Sprouts Farmers Market for believing in a new startup like ours to do a national launch. Their support has been instrumental in our journey as a woman+minority owned startup, especially considering the challenges we face in achieving a successful and organic national launch.”
Founded in 2022 by first-generation Japanese entrepreneur, Mika Shino, the award winning Mochi Gummies are shelf-stable, vegan, kosher, and free of gluten, dairy, soy and nuts. Most importantly, these delicious, chewy treats are crafted with a commitment to all-natural ingredients — devoid of GMOs, animal-derived gelatin, and artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors. The first of its kind, Mochi Gummies have a completely new textural and chewing experience with a soft, chewy, pillowy texture, somewhere between a gummy bear and a marshmallow. The gummies can be enjoyed straight from the package, or paired with ice cream, yogurt, oatmeal, puddings, or a favorite dessert.
Mochi Gummies debuted exclusively with Whole Foods Market in September 2022. Stocking the shelves in 192 stores across the U.S., it repeatedly sold out in many locations and quickly became the #2 best selling single-serving chewy candy. Now, the gummies are readily accessible online and at other national retailers nationwide in flavors including Strawberry, Mango, Sour Watermelon and Vanilla, with more to come in 2024. Recognized for its commitment to excellence, Issei Mochi Gummies was nominated for Best of 2022 Nosh Award, named 2022 Disruptor and Innovator of the Year by Washington Life Magazine and became a Finalist as Best New Sweet Snack 2023 for the Nexty Awards at ExpoWest.
Mochi Gummies began as a simple homemade snack that Shino was making for her kids and friends. Weary of the ingredients in the various gummy snacks and candies her children often asked for, she sought to create a snack that did not have excessive sugar, artificial flavors, chemical stabilizers, and animal byproducts. The more she learned about how gelatin was the foundation of most chewy snacks, and the more she learned where gelatin came from (boiled animal skin), the more she was convinced that there had to be better options for treats. So she created a simple, pure, and natural snack — small bite-sized versions of the mochi treat she grew up with in Japan — infused with natural flavors.
Mochi Gummies embraces the ancient Japanese tradition of mochi, a beloved rice-based treat with centuries of history and often consumed during celebrations, gatherings and expressions of gratitude.. The company redefines snacking, offering unparalleled purity as one of the cleanest snacks ever developed. Suitable for a wide range of lifestyles, these gummies are meticulously crafted to meet the highest standards of dietary inclusivity.
Issei, the parent company founded by Shino, mission is simple: to innovate better food options for a happier, healthier life, ensuring everyone can enjoy delicious snacks that align with their values. The term “Issei” means ‘first generation Japanese immigrants in the U.S.’ — symbolizing the earnest hope of immigrants who bring the best of their heritage to their newfound home. Issei is dedicated to infusing diversity and inclusion into the food sector, building bridges across cultures through the universal language of food. The Founder/CEO, Mika Shino, is a first-generation Japanese entrepreneur who brings a wealth of experience from her leadership roles in the culture, music and diplomacy space, having served as CEO, COO, producer, and advisor for the United Nations, tech firms, private companies and celebrities. Shino also attended Le Cordon Bleu Cooking School in Paris and published a cookbook ‘Smart Bites for Baby’ (Perseus Press, 2011). Together with a strong team of experts, Issei will establish itself as the premium, natural snack brand of the future. With innovation at the forefront, Mochi Gummies are bringing incremental growth to the candy category and have introduced an entirely new category of gummies to the market. Issei has an aggressive growth strategy with multiple product lines in development.
About Mochi Gummies By Issei
Established in 2022 by first-generation Japanese entrepreneur, Mika Shino, Issei Mochi Gummies embraces the ancient Japanese tradition of mochi, a beloved rice-based confection with centuries of history. Issei Mochi Gummies redefines snacking, offering unparalleled purity as one of the cleanest snacks ever developed. Suitable for a wide range of lifestyles, these gummies are meticulously crafted to meet the highest standards of dietary inclusivity. It is shelf-stable, vegan, kosher, and free of gluten, dairy, soy and nuts. Most importantly, these delicious, chewy treats are crafted with a commitment to all-natural ingredients — devoid of GMOs, animal-derived gelatin, and artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors. The first of its kind, Issei Mochi Gummies debuted exclusively with Whole Foods Market in September 2022. Stocking the shelves in 192 stores across the U.S., it repeatedly sold out in many locations and quickly became the #2 best selling single-serving chewy candy. Now, the gummies are readily accessible on Amazon and at Raley's, Bestie's Vegan Paradise, The World Bank, The Compass Group, Sprouts and Hy-Vee. Available flavors include Strawberry, Mango, Sour Watermelon and Vanilla, with more to come in 2024. Recognized for its commitment to excellence, Issei Mochi Gummies was nominated for Best of 2022 Nosh Award, named 2022 Disruptor and Innovator of the Year by Washington Life Magazine and became a Finalist as Best New Sweet Snack 2023 for the Nexty Awards at ExpoWest. Issei’s mission is simple: to innovate better food options for a happier, healthier life, ensuring everyone can enjoy delicious snacks that align with their values.
About Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc.
True to its farm-stand heritage, Sprouts offers a unique grocery experience featuring an open layout with fresh produce at the heart of the store. Sprouts inspires wellness naturally with a carefully curated assortment of better-for-you products paired with purpose-driven people. The healthy grocer continues to bring the latest in wholesome, innovative products made with lifestyle-friendly ingredients such as organic, plant-based and gluten-free. Headquartered in Phoenix, and one of the largest and fastest growing specialty retailers of fresh, natural and organic food in the United States, Sprouts employs approximately 31,000 team members and operates more than 400 stores in 23 states nationwide. To learn more about Sprouts, and the good it brings communities, visit about.sprouts.com.
Sour Watermelon photos here: Photos
Media Contacts:
For Issei Mochi Gummies / Kerri Brusca press@mochigummies.com
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