On the back of the weak yen, Fukuoka-based Marutai’s exports of Bo Ramen to Hong Kong and Taiwan have been brisk. The company’s Saga Plant, which manufactures the foreign-bound ramen, added more production lines and hired more employees in September in an effort to boost production by 30%. Marutai’s trademark Bo Ramen had been available overseas for several years, but it did not seriously beef up exports until 2013. At the end of fiscal 2013, sales reached ¥300 million, but now Marutai anticipates sales of ¥1 billion by the end of this fiscal year (ended March 2016). Exports now account for 30% of Bo Ramen sales. Nishinippon Shimbun 10/4
