Lawson to sell lower-priced onigiri made of ‘vintage rice'
Lawson Inc. will begin selling 'Vintage Rice Onigiri' made from rice harvested in 2023 at lower prices than its usual onigiri, the company announced on June 3.
The convenience store chain has procured about two tons of the older crop from the market. The rice is not from the recently released government reserves, Lawson said.
At a news conference, Lawson President Sadanobu Takemasu said the company wanted to more effectively utilize the older rice, since it has been preserved in good condition.
Lawson plans to begin selling Vintage Rice Onigiri at outlets in parts of the Kanto region in early July, at the earliest.
Takemasu said the company plans to offer a few basic varieties, such as those seasoned with salt or containing 'umeboshi' pickled plum, for around 120 yen ($0.84) each before taxes.
Lawson was inspired by the wine industry to label the onigiri with the harvest year—'Vintage 2023'—like bottles of fine wine.
The company also said it will begin selling small bags of older rice from government stockpiles at stores in the Kanto region within three days of its delivery and at outlets nationwide in about a week.
A 1-kilogram package of government rice will be sold for 360 yen before taxes, and a 2-kilogram package for 700 yen.
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