Koikeya or Koike-ya is a Japanese snack food manufacturer.1 As of 2019 it was the second-largest manufacturer of potato chips in Japan.2
The company was founded in 1958 (1958), by Kazuo Koike, who was in the snacks business when he first tried potato chips at an izakaya.2 The company was the first in Japan to mass-produce potato chips.2 The company developed several unusual flavors such as "Karamuucho" and "Don Tacos".2
The company makes chips in various flavors, such as "Wild Shiso Ume" and "Demon Consomme".34 It makes chips with specialty flavors local to certain areas, such as Akaushi beef-flavored chips in Kyushu.5
It makes potato chips in flavors such as "toast" and "milk" meant to be eaten for breakfast.1
References
References
- "Japanese snack food maker Koikeya extends line of 'breakfast' potato chips | PotatoPro". Potato Pro. 2016-06-30. Retrieved 2025-03-21.
- "Not chasing the industry leader! The new Koikeya takes on the challenge of pioneering new markets". TV Tokyo (in Japanese). 3 October 2019. Retrieved 2025-03-21.
- "Koikeya's STRONG chip series goes wild for summer with Wild Shiso Ume and Demon Consomme flavor chips". Japan Today. 2021-07-06. Retrieved 2025-03-21.
- Michel, Patrick St (2018-04-14). "Koikeya's 'strong' potato chips scream flavor, but do they deliver?". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2025-03-21.
- Shimbun, The Yomiuri (2023-09-03). "Akaushi Beef-Flavored Chips Debut to Promote Kyushu Area". Japan News. Retrieved 2025-03-21.