Skip to Main Content
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Giving
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions
Faculty & Research
  • Faculty
  • Research
  • Featured Topics
  • Academic Units
  • …→
  • Harvard Business School→
  • Faculty & Research→
Publications
Publications
  • July 2019 (Revised November 2022)
  • Case
  • HBS Case Collection

Momofuku Ando and the Globalization of Noodles

By: Geoffrey Jones and Megumi Takada
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:21
ShareBar

Abstract

This case examines the entrepreneurial career of Momofuku Ando, the Taiwanese-born Japanese entrepreneur who pioneered instant boodles with his Chicken Ramen (1958) and Cup Noodle (1971) products. It begins by reviewing his many previous unsuccessful ventures, including two jail terms, during the turbulent era of the 1930s, World War II, and postwar Japan. Following the development of Cup Noodle, Ando and his company Nissin began globalizing the product, beginning with the United States, Brazil and Southeast Asia. The case enables a discussion of the factors behind his many entrepreneurial failures, and his eventual success in the food industry. It looks at the social and economic changes which provided the context for his subsequent development of a successful business in instant noodles, and its globalization. The case also provides an opportunity to discuss the responsibilities of the food industry for the health of consumers. Although instant noodles were cheap and convenient, the high sodium content posed potential health risks, while the packaging of Cup Noodle had an adverse environmental impact.

Keywords

Entrepreneurship; Personal Development and Career; Failure; Success; Globalization; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Food and Beverage Industry; Japan

Citation

Jones, Geoffrey, and Megumi Takada. "Momofuku Ando and the Globalization of Noodles." Harvard Business School Case 320-006, July 2019. (Revised November 2022.)
  • Educators
  • Purchase

About The Author

Geoffrey G. Jones

General Management
→More Publications

Related Work

    • November 2019
    • Faculty Research

    Momofuku Ando and the Globalization of Noodles

    By: Geoffrey Jones and Emilie Takayama
    • July 2019 (Revised November 2022)
    • Faculty Research

    Momofuku Ando and the Globalization of Noodles

    By: Geoffrey Jones and Megumi Takada
Related Work
  • Momofuku Ando and the Globalization of Noodles By: Geoffrey Jones and Emilie Takayama
  • Momofuku Ando and the Globalization of Noodles By: Geoffrey Jones and Megumi Takada
ǁ
Campus Map
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
→Map & Directions
→More Contact Information
  • Make a Gift
  • Site Map
  • Jobs
  • Harvard University
  • Trademarks
  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Digital Accessibility
Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College