Global instant noodle industry commits to sustainable future at WINA Summit 2025

Global leaders in the instant noodle industry reaffirmed their commitments to enhance nutrition, sustainability, food safety, and social responsibility during the 11th World Instant Noodles Association (WINA) Summit in Manila.

“It’s a big challenge, so we have to come up with a target and reach that. We have to be committed to taking on challenges, and each of the instant noodle manufacturers have to be positive in tackling these issues,” WINA chairman Koki Ando shared in his opening message.

Hosted by Monde Nissin Corporation, the Manila Summit was the first in-person convention held since 2018. 

“The theme of this Summit, ‘World United by Noodles’ encapsulates our shared commitment. It highlights our dedication to the four pillars that are crucial to our future.,” said Henry Soesanto, WINA Director General and President and CEO of Monde Nissin.

The four focus pillars of the summit were food safety, nutrition, sustainability, and social responsibility.

During the Summit, industry leaders were urged to embrace innovation and inclusivity in the pursuit of wellness. Kunihiko Hirabayashi, Secretary-General of the ASEAN-Japan Centre, discussed that global consumer preferences are shifting towards healthier diets, and that the instant noodle industry has a unique opportunity to redefine its products as nutritious in turn. The keynote also highlighted the increasing alignment between health-conscious food production and long-term business sustainability, positioning WINA members at the forefront of a more responsible and forward-thinking food industry.

With this, Dr. Mitsuru Tanaka, Head of the WINA Food Security and Safety, formally introduced the WINA Challenge Target—a framework guiding the industry’s commitments across four key areas: nutrition and health, environmental sustainability, food safety, and social responsibility. The initiative sets ambitious goals, including reducing salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats in instant noodle products while enhancing their nutritional value. 

“Until today, the WINA challenge target has only been shared internally. However, we would like to announce it publicly for the first time,” said Tanaka. “Through this announcement, we hope the entire instant noodle industry will unite and cooperate with government agencies and other organizations to work on various social issues we face.”

During the summit, industry leaders emphasized that these changes reflect growing consumer demand for healthier, more sustainable food options while preserving the convenience and cultural significance that have made instant noodles a global staple.

The Summit spotlighted how instant noodles, deeply embedded in diverse cultural traditions, can evolve to be a part of a positive change in global nutrition and sustainability practices. With over 120 billion servings consumed annually worldwide per WINA data, the industry’s commitments are poised to have far-reaching effects on consumer health and environmental conservation.

Taking the WINA Challenge Target further, the WINA Board of Governors, representing some of the leading instant noodle manufacturers in the world, signed the Manila Declaration. The declaration concretizes how the industry approaches its responsibilities to consumers and the planet.

WINA governors signed the declaration pledging concrete actions to improve product nutrition, maintain stringent food safety standards, reduce environmental impact, and address pressing social issues.

Also present at the summit was Mr. Hiroki Kaneda, General Director of Acecook Vietnam, Zhongliang Yao, Chairman of the Board of Baixiang Foods, Taufik Wiraatmadja, Director of Indofood, Trong Duong Nguyen, Director of Mareven Food, Chung Kuo-Hsing, CTO of Master Kong, Koki Ando, President and CEO Of Nissin Food Products, Henry Soesanto, CEO of Monde Nissin Corporation, Gabriel Chua, Innovation Marketing Manager of Foods PH, Nestle Philippines, Takayuki Suzuki, President of Nissin Foods Brazil, Noritaka Ando, Executive Vice President and Representative Director, COO, President, and Representative Director of Nissin Food Products Co., LTD., Gouchul Shim, Executive Vice President of Nongshim, Jakkrit Santirattanakul, Investment Manager of Saha Group, Lee, Ching Tyan, President of Uni-President Taiwan, and Mitsuru Tanaka, Managing Executive Officer and Chief Development Officer, Head Of Nissin Global Innovation Center, Head Of Nissin Global Food Safety Institute, Nissin Foods Holdings Co., Ltd.

The World Instant Noodles Association (WINA), founded in 1997, is the global authority for the instant noodle industry. Representing manufacturers across Asia, Europe, and the Americas, WINA drives excellence in industry standards while promoting sustainable and innovative practices in instant noodle production worldwide.

ADVT.

This article is brought to you by Monde Nissin Corporation.