Allen will lead Issei Mochi Gummies to next phase of retail expansion in 2024
(New York, NY) - March 12, 2024 -- Issei Mochi Gummies, the world’s first all natural mochi gummy brand, has appointed industry veteran Margaret Allen as Vice President Sales. The innovative candy company has expanded its physical retail footprint recently with Walmart, Sprouts Farmers Markets, Hy-Vee and will be announcing three more major national retailers this Spring. Allen joins the company at a crucial growth juncture as the brand enters the next phase of retail expansion in 2024. Issei Mochi Gummies founder and CEO Mika Shino will be with Allen this week at Expo West (booth: N649 North Hall Level 100).
Shino states "We are so thrilled to have Margaret join our company at this pivotal time of accelerated growth. With her expertise in the CPG space, her skills in scaling brands, as well as her love for food innovation will propel Issei to the next level.”
In Margaret’s most recent role as National Sales Director at UNREAL Brands, Inc she managed dozens of accounts, including key retailers such as Whole Foods Market, Albertsons, H-E-B, Thrive Market, Meijer, Sprouts and more. She also directed a large broker network and was the account lead for UNFI and KeHE. Margaret played an integral role in significantly increasing revenue over the course of her 7-year tenure at UNREAL, working with the team to turn the brand from a startup into a household name. Previous to her role at UNREAL, Margaret held a position as a Western Regional Sales Manager with Think Products, LLC; driving distribution as the company was expanding innovation items into new categories. Allen also worked as a broker Account Executive for Presence Marketing, proudly serving a diverse portfolio of clients. There she also won a brand partner award for most new item placements. Allen currently lives with her husband and two young children in the Midwest.
Issei, the one year old company, continues to expand the brand aggressively through the company's growing base of retail and distributor outlets, nationally, regionally, and locally. Walmart recently selected the brand from thousands of applicants for the coveted "Golden Ticket" award at Walmart's Open Call 2023. Issei MOchi Gummies are available at 850+ doors including Whole Foods Market, Raley's, Bestie's Vegan Paradise, The World Bank, The Compass Group, and Sprouts Farmers Market as well as online at Amazon and Mochigummies.com. Issei Mochi Gummies has also launched exciting new flavor innovations including sour watermelon, tangerine and a first of its kind limited edition dark chocolate covered strawberry mochi gummy. Other available flavors include Strawberry, Mango, and Vanilla.
Founded in 2022 by first-generation Japanese entrepreneur, Mika Shino, the award winning Issei 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, Issei 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.
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. Recognized for its commitment to excellence, Issei Mochi Gummies won TasteTV’s Best New Chewy Snack and Best New Packaging and Best Texture 2023. The brand was recognized by the Stevie Awards for the Best Fest Female Entrepreneur. Issei Mochi Gummies was nominated for the Most Innovative New Product Award 2023, Best of 2022 and 2023 Nosh Award, and became a Finalist as Best New Sweet Snack 2023 for the Nexty Awards at ExpoWest.
Issei Mochi Gummies embraces the ancient Japanese tradition of mochi, a beloved rice-based treat with centuries of history and often consumed during sacred ceremonies, 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’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. 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 and mother who brings a wealth of experience from her leadership roles in the culture, music and diplomacy space, having served as a United Nations Program Specialist, CEO, COO, producer, and advisor for 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 fist-to-market 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 nationwide at Sprouts Farmers Market, Raley's, Bestie's Vegan Paradise, Tillamook, The World Bank, The Compass Group,Pop-Up Grocer as well as on Amazon and directly on the company website. Available flavors include Strawberry, Mango, Sour Watermelon, Tangerine and Vanilla, with more to come in 2024. 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.
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For Issei Mochi Gummies / Kerri Brusca kerri@mochigummies.com
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