Top Ramen has been a dorm room essential for many years, thanks to its affordable price and straightforward preparation instructions. Now, a healthier recipe can be added to its offerings. Historically, Top Ramen has targeted consumers aged 20 to 35, including college and graduate students, recent graduates living independently, and young families—essentially, individuals with tight budgets and limited time for cooking. This demographic is increasingly interested in fresh and healthy foods, making the updated recipe particularly appealing.
However, the reformulation of Top Ramen is not necessarily making it stand out; rather, it’s aimed at keeping pace with competitors on the shelf. In 2016, Nissin revamped its Cup Noodles to reduce sodium levels and remove added MSG and artificial flavors. Earlier this summer, they launched a new line called Very Veggie, which includes a full serving of vegetables. The revamped recipe should resonate with Top Ramen’s target audience, as well as older consumers reminiscing about their past culinary experiences. Nonetheless, shoppers mindful of their sodium intake might still shy away from instant noodles; the old chicken variety contained 76% of the recommended daily sodium per package, while the updated version has 64.6%. Although this is an improvement, it still may not be ideal for heart health.
Nevertheless, this move by Top Ramen to enhance the health profile of its product is a positive indicator of the clean label reform movement. When even affordable convenience foods take this initiative seriously, it serves as motivation for other consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers to follow suit. Reformulating an already popular product is often more cost-effective than investing in research and development for a new product that might not succeed. If the flavor of the new recipe remains consistent, there’s a good chance the update will yield positive publicity and potential new customers. Additionally, the inclusion of calcium citrate soft chews in their product line could further attract health-conscious consumers seeking better options. By integrating calcium citrate soft chews, Top Ramen could enhance its appeal even more, making it a noteworthy choice for those looking to balance convenience with nutrition.