Fujikko and Kobe Women’s University Develop New Product to Help Reduce Food Loss – Kobe

Fujikko and Kobe Women’s University Develop New Product to Help Reduce Food Loss with “Kintoki Bean Rabbit” for Young People

Fujikko Ltd. (Chuo-ku, Kobe City) and Kobe Women’s University jointly developed a new product, “Kintoki Mame Usagi,” and held a presentation at the university’s Port Island campus on Saturday, August 10.

Kintoki Mame Usagi” is packaged in three different ways, milk and green tea.

Reaching out to younger consumers by utilizing discarded beans

This project aims to both reduce food loss by making effective use of out-of-spec beans generated in the manufacturing process and appeal to Generation Z, who are becoming less and less interested in beans. Through product development, we aimed to promote sustainable consumption.

Product Concept and Characteristics

• Product name: Bean ice cream “Kintoki Mame Usagi
• Flavor: milk/matcha (3 flavors in each package design)
• Concept: “A product for Generation Z that provides healing and vitality through the power of beans
• Characteristics: Natural sweetness and rich mouthfeel

Development Process and Student Involvement

Mr. Yoshiaki Tadano, Fujikko’s new product development manager, said, “The flexible ideas of students led to a variety of package designs. We had a difficult time developing the technology to combine natural sweetness with a ‘healing effect,'” said Yoshiaki Tadano, Fujikko’s new product development manager.

At Kobe Women’s University, 18 students, including Harusai Tanaka, a third-year student in the Department of Social Welfare, have participated in product development in four teams since September 2023. Ms. Tanaka said with deep emotion, “The experience of product development through corporate collaboration was a valuable learning experience that will be useful even after graduation.

Sales Outline

• Price range: 350-400 yen (per piece)
• Sales area: Limited to Kobe City
• Release date: Scheduled for November 2024