Rice balls (onigiri) remain one of the most popular staples found in the prepared foods section in stores throughout Japan. Though simple in concept, they offer ample opportunity for differentiation when freshly prepared in-store. Developing unique, in-house onigiri varieties can help establish a signature product for your business. 

In this article, we will outline some effective approaches to product appeal and merchandising strategies to set your freshly prepared onigiri apart from the competition. 

Differentiating Onigiri Through In-Store Preparation 

While many retailers rely on pre-packaged onigiri, preparing them in-store allows for meaningful product differentiation.

Onigiri is particularly well-suited to such efforts for several reasons:

Expected Benefits of Freshly Prepared Onigiri 

Strategies for Promoting Onigiri In-Store 

Effective merchandising is critical to encouraging customers to purchase freshly prepared onigiri. Utilizing posters, panels, banners, and other POP materials to highlight key product attributes is essential.

Possible points to emphasize include: 

Developing Onigiri into a Signature Product 

To establish your freshly prepared onigiri as a signature product, having a dedicated merchandising space is essential.

Creating an onigiri section

 Creating an onigiri section with sufficient product variety, supported by clear POP displays and an attractive, eye-catching layout, enhances visibility and drives sales by encouraging customers to pick up the items. This is the first step in creating your signature product. 

Creating a Well Stocked Display 

It is important to offer a reasonably large assortment to make the section feel substantial, and this in turn requires preparing large quantities of rice. However, rice can be difficult to handle: it tends to clump, and it sticks to paddles and gloves, making onigiri preparation labor intensive. Improving workflow efficiency is therefore key to maintaining an attractive, full display.

Enhancing Workability with Rice Cooking Oil 

One effective solution for making rice easier to handle during onigiri preparation is the use of rice-cooking oil, a specialized oil added before cooking. 

When incorporated during cooking, the oil coats each grain, reducing stickiness and preventing clumping. This makes it easier to shape onigiri efficiently while preventing rice from sticking to utensils or gloves. 

Unlike other oils, rice-cooking oil disperses evenly in water, ensuring consistent results for each and every grain of rice. As a result, rice is easier to portion and handle, significantly improving efficiency. 

As shown in the images above, rice cooked with added rice-cooking oil sticks less and fluffs more easily. This makes it simpler to adjust portions and speeds up onigiri preparation, enhancing overall efficiency when shaping rice balls. 

Conclusion: Create Freshly Prepared Signature Onigiri  

Preparing your own onigiri right in the store is a powerful way to differentiate your product from your competitors and cultivate a signature product. Make use of attractive POP displays and volume merchandising to help create an engaging, visually appealing sales environment. In order to maintain a full, substantial-looking display, it is important to ensure your preparation workflow is efficient without sacrificing quality. 

Rice Tech Oil prevents clumping and makes rice easier to handle, simplifying preparation of large batches of onigiri. It also helps preserve grain definition, contributing to superior taste and texture. 

Looking to streamline your operations while boosting product appeal? Try our free sample and discover what Rice Tech Oil can do for your business. 

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