Ajinomoto Foods North America (AFNA) is expanding its dumpling portfolio with the debut of Sweet & Spicy Chili Saucy Pork & Chicken Gyoza and Jumbo Chicken Shumai. Priced at $7.99, both products are now available at Albertsons and Ahold stores, with listings at additional retail outlets set for this summer.
Building on the momentum last year’s launch of hane-style Gyoza, Japan’s #1 gyoza that’s beloved for its juicy filling and signature golden, lacy wing, the Ontario, California-based subsidiary of Tokyo-headquartered Ajinomoto Co. continues to serve up authentic Japanese flavor backed by more than a century of umami expertise. The brand blends culinary heritage with convenient, restaurant-quality meals made for everyday occasions.
Ajinomoto’s Sweet & Spicy Chili Saucy Pork & Chicken Gyoza features delicate pork and chicken dumplings filled with fragrant ginger. Tapping into the rising “swicy” trend, the product comes with a rich garlic sweet and spicy chili sauce that can be drizzled on top to balance the savory umami with sweet heat. Boasting 17 grams of protein each, the gyozas can be steamed in six to seven minutes or ready after less than three minutes of microwaving. Distribution is in 10-ounce boxes containing 10 dumplings and one sauce packet.
Jumbo Chicken Shumai features a layered texture in every bite with juicy diced and ground chicken, shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots and water chestnuts. At two to three bites each, the product is larger than the standard Japanese shumai, and ideal as an anytime snack as well as a lunch and dinner dish. They are ready to plate after about three minutes of microwave oven preparation, nine minutes in an air fryer, or 17 minutes of steaming. Each box contains nine shumai (each of which serves up 20 grams of protein) and a savory soy and vinegar sauce packet.
“Following the strong response to our US launch of hane-style gyoza, we have expanded the line with two offerings that deliver new eating experiences aligned with consumer preference,” said Dave Gardner, president and chief executive officer of Ajinomoto Foods North America. “One brings a bolder flavor profile, and the other offers a more convenient take on a classic favorite. Together, they reflect our focus on giving consumers high quality and quick cooking options with authentic flavor.”
