
TOKYO -- Sixty years since Japan's Nissin sold its first packet of chicken ramen, instant noodles have become ubiquitous around the world, with more than 100 billion units sold yearly. Now big producers are zeroing in on growing markets like China, India and Brazil in a bid to capture even more hearts and stomachs.
The who's who of the industry gathered for the World Instant Noodles Summit on Aug. 22 and Aug. 23 to discuss global market trends. The event, which comes every two or three years, was held this year in Osaka -- the hallowed ground where Nissin founder Momofuku Ando invented the instant noodle.