Which company produces the instant ramen brand 'Sapporo Ichiban'?

Sanyo Foods produces the instant ramen brand Sapporo Ichiban. The Japanese company is based in Maebashi, in Gunma Prefecture, and the brand’s name means “Sapporo’s number one.” The name was chosen after company president Takeshi Ida was impressed by the ramen he encountered in Sapporo.

Sapporo Ichiban first appeared with its original soy-sauce flavor in January 1966. Its miso flavor followed in 1968, and its shio, or salt, flavor arrived in 1971. Those varieties helped establish the colorful packages and recognizable flavor lineup associated with the brand.

The brand is sold internationally, including in the United States and Canada. Products for those markets are manufactured at Sanyo Foods’ facility in Garden Grove, California, while domestic Japanese production takes place at several plants in Japan. Sapporo Ichiban is sometimes confused with Maruchan or Nissin because all three companies make widely distributed instant noodles, but Sanyo Foods is the producer behind this particular brand.