News Lawson to replace part of its rice with barley and wheat in combini dishes

[thomas]

Lawson said the chain had begun folding barley and wheat into some of its ready-to-eat dishes, a move prompted by the continued rise in rice prices. Fumiyoshi Mizushima, who oversees prepared foods within Lawson's merchandise division, explained on 4 Nov. that the company planned to boost its purchases of relatively inexpensive barley by about twenty per cent, to expand items such as its "sticky-barley mixed rice balls."

He noted that customers were already leaning more toward bread and noodle dishes, and said the company was preparing to broaden those options as well. Lawson expects rice prices in Japan to climb further, a worrying trend for a business that relies heavily on rice as a staple for onigiri and bento sold across its nationwide stores.

Referring to the expected prices of rice going forward, Mizushima added that Lawson "will take action on the assumption that the price will continue to steadily grow." In addition to mixing barley into rice, the convenience store chain is looking at a range of countermeasures, such as omitting the typical nori garnish, to constantly offer affordable onigiri for less than 200 yen ($1.30). Lawson is simultaneously moving toward refining the quality of relatively costly rice balls, priced at 200 yen to upward of 300 yen, in collaboration with the well-established specialty store Onigiri Asakusa Yadoroku. Another step Lawson is considering is to promote wheat-based, rice-free merchandise, as consumers are increasingly turning to bakery and noodle products in the general precooked food business covering onigiri and bento as well. "Customers prefer bread and noodle to rice balls and boxed meals under the current trend," said Mizushima.

Lawson subbing out rice for barley, wheat in 'konbini' foods | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

 

[musicisgood]

Do you think the prices are reasonable these days.