Brand's Nationwide Retail Presence Continues to Expand; CEO Mika Shino Graces Cover of INC. Magazine's Female Founders Issue
New York, NY May 6, 2024 – Issei Mochi Gummies, the first all natural mochi candy brand, announced today the nationwide launch at Walmart. Last year Walmart selected Issei Mochi Gummies from thousands of applicants for the coveted "Golden Ticket" award at Walmart's Open Call. Walmart will carry Issei Mochi Gummies flavors Strawberry, Mango and Tangerine, MSRP $4.99.
Issei Mochi Gummies founder and CEO Mika Shino said, "As we celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we are so grateful for this incredible opportunity. It is a dream come true to be on the shelves at Walmart”.
Founded in 2022 by first-generation Japanese American entrepreneur, Mika Shino, the award winning Issei Mochi Gummies physical retail presence has multiplied over tenfold, now spanning over 2,000 locations nationwide across multiple retailers. Issei Mochi Gummies announced this April a launch in World Market Stores and are currently available in Whole Foods Market, Sprouts Farmers Market Stores, Raley's, Bestie's Vegan Paradise, The World Bank, The Compass Group and Hy-Vee. The company also ships direct-to-customers in all 50 states and internationally to Canada, Middle East, and on Amazon.
Shino is also currently on the cover of Inc. Magazine’s 2024 Female Founders issue highlighting entrepreneurs whose innovations and ideas are shaping the world into a better place. Ranked at #2 on the 200 female founder list of world changing companies, Shino shares the cover with Katy Perry and Morgan McLachlan, co-founders of De Soi; Piersten Gaines, founder of Pressed Roots; and Michelle Zatlyn, co-founder of Cloudflare. This recognition comes after several wins for Mika’s innovative candy brand this year, as Issei has experienced exceptional growth and sales as well as numerous accolades and awards. Read the Inc. Issei Mochi Gummy interview here: How Candymaker Mika Shino Survived Sweet but Sudden Success.
Watch the video interview with MIka Shino here.
Issei Mochi Gummies are the world’s first all natural mochi candy brand. The 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. Issei Mochi Gummies available flavors include sour watermelon, tangerine, strawberry, mango, Vanilla and the latest innovation flavor YUZU. This past winter the brand also released a first of its kind limited edition dark chocolate covered strawberry mochi gummy. The gummies can be enjoyed straight from the package, or paired with ice cream, yogurt, oatmeal, puddings, or a favorite dessert.
Recognized for its commitment to excellence, Issei Mochi Gummies won TasteTV’s Best New Chewy Snack, Best New Packaging and Best Texture Awards in 2023 and FoodBev Media’s World Food Innovation Best Confectionary Product Award in 2024. The brand was also nominated for Nosh’s Most Innovative New Product Award 2023 as well as Best of 2022 and 2023 Awards, and became a Finalist as Best New Sweet Snack 2023 for the Nexty Awards at ExpoWest. Founder/CEO Mika Shino was also recently recognized by the Stevie Awards for the Best Fest Female Entrepreneur in 2023 and as a finalist for Success Magazine’s 2024 Women of Influence Awards.
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. 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 has established itself as the premium, natural snack brand of the future. With innovation at the forefront, Issei is bringing incremental growth to the candy category and has 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 Issei Mochi Gummies
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 are readily accessible nationwide at Whole Foods Market, Sprouts Farmers Market Stores, Raley's, Bestie's Vegan Paradise, The World Bank, The Compass Group, World Market Stores, and Hy-Vee. The company also ships direct-to-customers in all 50 states and internationally to Canada, Middle East, and on Amazon. Available flavors include Strawberry, Mango, Sour Watermelon, Tangerine, YUZU 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.
Media Contact:
For Issei Mochi Gummies / Kerri Brusca kerri@mochigummies.com
Media Assets + Information: https://mochigummies.com/