Their new own-brand range will include new products which will span across ready meals, centrepieces, sides and snacks, and offers customers familiar flavours and dishes for all eating occasions.
Japanese cuisine is a growing trend, growing +15% compared to last year on social discussions (Tastewise), with Google searches also growing rapidly compared to previous months.
Waitrose have also seen a significant growth in traffic on waitrose.com to their dedicated Japanese recipes page and searches on their website for ‘tempura prawns’, ‘tonkatsu’, ‘soba noodles’ and ‘matcha’ are all up 113%, 75%, 69% and 37% respectively, compared to last year, showing the growing demand for Japanese foods and flavours amongst our customers.
Said Charlotte Di Cello, who is Waitrose's Commercial Director: “I’m particularly excited about our new Japan Menyū range, having enjoyed so much of it growing up, because my mum is Japanese.
"So much care and consideration has gone into each dish to ensure we’re offering the very best Japanese-inspired selection. We’ve seen significant growth in customer demand for Japanese foods, so to be launching this delicious and high quality curated range that can be enjoyed by anyone in the comfort of their own home is hugely exciting for all of us at Waitrose.”
Their range, which will be available in their shops, online, Uber Eats and on Deliveroo, offers their customers convenience while still allowing them to create the restaurant experience in their own homes.
With versatility across all of the dishes, customers will be able to pair different centrepieces and meal bases to suit all taste buds.
While the Japan Menyū range has exclusively been created by their team of chefs and product developers, Waitrose also consulted with Yuki Gomi and the Asian Leadership Collective to ensure they considered cultural traditions in the development of their range and designs and included the most incredible dishes for their customers.
Yuki Gomi, who is a Japanese chef, food writer & cookery teacher, said: “It’s been such a great pleasure to collaborate with the Waitrose team on their new Japanese range.
"From the name of the range to the delicious selection of dishes that have been developed, so much care and consideration has been taken to deliver an amazing range that I know their customers will love.”
Zoe Simons, who is the Waitrose Senior Development Chef, said: “Our team had an absolutely brilliant time building our Japan Menyū range.
"We’ve taken familiar flavours twe know our customers will love and created them into a range of brilliant products, including 13 vegetarian dishes, 10 of which are suitable for vegans. From the trends our team has seen and the data that’s been gathered, we know our customers are looking to expand their dining options even further and already enjoy delicious Japanese food."
Zoe wen t on to say: “Whether customers are looking for a convenient Friday night dinner that’s already prepared or some extra additions to complement their own cookery creations, our Japan Menyū range has something for all eating occasions.”
A spokesman said: "Waitrose already sells over 200 Japanese products, including brands like as Itsu, Wagamama, Kikkoman and Taiko Sushi, plus the 124 Sushi Daily kiosks we have available across our shops.
"We also offer Japanese ingredients within our own Cooks’ Ingredients range, including the Yuzu Juice, Shichimi Togarashi and Japanese Rice Vinegar - our new Japan Menyū complements our existing offering perfectly.
"To allow customers to create the full Japanese experience at home, we will also be launching Reusable Bamboo Chopsticks, as well as a selection of John Lewis cookware that make the perfect serving dishes for the Waitrose Japan Menyū range.
"Also, as part of the range we will be launching three new No.1 Bonsai plants within our horticulture range, as well as a first to market Ikebana flower bouquet. Ikebana is the art of Japanese flower arranging, a symbol of refinement - with minimalist and precise arrangement, Ikebana is an ancient Japanese tradition of artisan floristry."
Highlights from the range:-
Centrepieces
Waitrose Japan Menyū Pork Tonkatsu 350g £6.00
Tender pork with a crumb coating, ready to shallow fry and serve with rice. Fruity, tangy, and truly tasty. Their fresh pork is always British and always outdoor bred or free-range.
Waitrose Japan Menyū Slow Cooked Chili Miso Beef 318g £7.50
Their meltingly tender beef has been slow cooked for 10 hours to allow the chilli miso flavours to infuse. Warming, with a hint of spice, it’s best served with stir fried rice. All of our beef is British.
Waitrose Japan Menyū Miso Cod 274g £6.50 (MSC certified)
Delicately umami and slightly sweet, our miso cod goes perfectly with rice and stir fried veg to make a satisfying main.
Waitrose Japan Menyū Slow Cooked Chilli Jackfruit (V) 314g £6.00
A texture and taste sensation. Their slow cooked jackfruit is delicious stirred through rice, or stuffed into steamed buns, and it comes with a Japanese inspired barbecue sauce for a rich flavour.
Waitrose Japan Menyū 6 Teriyaki Pork Belly Slices 380g £6.00
Six melt-in-the-mouth pork belly slices with a teriyaki glaze. Savoury-sweet, they make a great topping for ramen, or stuffed into our new steamed buns alongside the new slaw.
Their pork comes from British outdoor bred pigs, housed in straw bedded airy barns. Their fresh pork is always British and always outdoor bred or free-range.
Ready Meals
Waitrose Japan Menyū Chicken Katsu Curry 350g £5.00
The ultimate comfort food: crispy breaded chicken with steamed rice and a mild curry sauce. All their chicken is higher welfare and we have a bespoke set of high standards that our poultry farmers adhere to.
Waitrose Japan Menyū Sweet Potato Katsu Curry (Veg/V) 390g £5.00
A vegan take on the familiar favourite. Breaded sweet potato, served with steamed rice and a mild katsu curry sauce.
Waitrose Japan Menyū Miso Aubergine Rice Bowl (Veg/V) 350g £5.50
Cooked sushi rice, miso roasted aubergine pieces, pickled vegetables and spring greens in a miso, black bean sauce with leek, garlic and ginger.
Sides & Snacks
Waitrose Japan Menyū Chicken Karaage 150g £3.60
Crispy fried chicken thigh, seasoned with garlic, ginger and pepper. This is a very popular dish with our customers and pairs perfectly with our new Japan Menyū Dip selection. All our chicken is higher welfare and we have a bespoke set of high standards that our poultry farmers adhere to.
Waitrose Japan Menyū Cauliflower Tempura & Dip (Veg/V) 180g £3.40
A delicious vegan alternative to our karaage, these Cauliflower florets are coated in crispy batter, with spring onions and a soy yuzu dip. Great for sharing.
Waitrose Japan Menyū 4 ‘No Chicken’ Drumsticks (Veg/V) 170g £3.75
Tender jackfruit drumsticks coated in a crunchy panko crumb, served with a spicy soy glaze.
Waitrose Japan Menyū Vegetable Steamed Buns (Veg/V) £2.50
These steamed buns are filled with mild katsu curry flavoured veggies. Soft, fluffy bites of deliciousness.
Waitrose Japan Menyū Shredded Cabbage & Edamame Slaw with Ponzu Dressing (V) 140g £2.50
Finely cut pink and white cabbage with coriander, carrot, edamame beans, salad onions and black onion seeds with a creamy ponzu dressing. A zesty side to go with any mains and centrepieces
Waitrose Japan Menyū Edamame Beans with Garlic & Chilli Salt (V/Ve) 200g £3.50
Who doesn’t want a big pot of Edamame beans to pop out of their shells and devour? These whole edamame beans are served with garlic and chilli salt.
(EDITOR: Looks interesting! It's worth looking at using Japan Menyū foodstuffs for your Christmas and New Year's feasting?)