Lawson rolls out low‑price no‑topping frozen ramen in Japan

Lawson began selling two new frozen ramen products on June 30 2024: a pork‑bone broth “Soup‑exciting! Special‑rich Pork Bone Ramen” and a soy‑sauce‑based “Sauce‑exciting! Oil‑Soba with Spicy Oil”. Both are priced at ¥297 (about 20% below the chain’s average frozen‑noodle price) and contain only noodles and broth, omitting traditional toppings to keep costs down. The company expects a 110% increase in overall sales from the new items, noting that the simplified production line allows higher output per hour and lower ingredient costs.

The launch comes amid a nationwide price‑rise wave affecting 2,566 food items, prompting consumers to seek cheaper meals such as “no‑topping ramen” sold at other restaurants. Lawson’s strategy targets price‑sensitive shoppers by offering a cheaper, yet flavor‑focused, frozen option that can be prepared quickly at home.