Innovative Partnership: Niigata's Food-Tech Start-Up Collaborates with Oisix Group to Enhance Elderly Meals

An Exciting Collaboration in the Food-Tech Sector

In an amazing development from Niigata, a food-tech startup named LacuS has joined forces with Oisix Group and Shidax Food Service to create a new model for nutritious meals specifically designed for the elderly. The initiative, aptly named "元気ごはん with Oisix", will introduce a soup based on LacuS's innovative formulations, scheduled to start rolling out in October 2026. This collaboration shines a light on how food-tech can effectively address the dietary needs of senior citizens across Japan.

Addressing Nutritional Challenges Among Seniors

Shidax, a leading provider of meal services to various facilities, including those catering to the elderly, has identified increasing challenges surrounding the nutritional intake of aged individuals. Reduced appetite amongst older adults often leads to nutritional deficiencies, which "元気ごはん with Oisix" aims to combat. The "すごカロ" line allows seniors to consume 100% of their required calories with just 80% of the usual serving size, ensuring both nutritional adequacy and palatability.

Meanwhile, LacuS operates under the vision of “Enhancing health throughout Japan” with their “Me TIME FOODS” brand, which is geared towards delivering complete nutritional meals that emphasize taste, ensuring that older adults enjoy wholesome food throughout their lives. Combining forces, LacuS’s culinary prowess in nutritional design and Shidax's operational insights in meal provisioning will create offerings that cater to the nutritional requirements of the elderly.

Innovating with Convenience: The New Soup

The jointly developed product, "すごカロスープ with Me TIME FOODS", focuses on enhancing the usual offerings of soup in elderly care facilities. By utilizing LacuS's "Me SOUP" as the foundation and integrating Shidax’s extensive experience in providing meals, this new soup maintains high nutritional value while prioritizing ease of preparation and taste. Designed in a convenient powdered form, it only requires hot water to be served, simplifying cooking processes significantly, thus making it easier for facilities to serve potentially life-saving nutrients that older adults may often neglect.

The Evolution and Impact of Niigata Food Tech Town

This collaboration is a part of a larger effort led by Oisix and the NSG Group through the Niigata Food-Tech Town (NFTT) initiative. Launched in December 2024, NFTT aspires to utilize Niigata's abundant food resources and traditional fermentation techniques to create an ecosystem that fosters food-tech startups, leading to innovative collaborations such as this.

The NFTT encompasses various initiatives, including "NFTT Farm", a community that accelerates business growth among food startups. Under the leadership of LacuS's representative Eiriku Koza, this initiative facilitates networking opportunities with major corporations to generate new business prospects.

Additionally, LacuS is also a proud beneficiary of Oisix’s Future Food Fund, bridging the gap between local startups, corporate backing, and real-world implementation of projects like the soup collaboration, ultimately advancing both health and nutritional access for elderly citizens.

Words from the Key Players

Eiriku Koza of LacuS expressed his commitment, stating, “As a leader of NFTT Farm, I have been dedicated to creating a new food industry from Niigata. We aim to solve the challenge faced by seniors who often struggle with their food intake. By focusing on enhancing nutrition while maintaining taste, we have developed "Me TIME FOODS" as a solution.” He further added how elated he is that the technology from Niigata is now benefiting care facilities nationwide.

About LacuS and Shidax

LacuS positions itself at the forefront of combating the issues of Japan's aging population. Their aspiration is to create an infrastructure allowing people to enjoy delicious meals throughout their lives. With the backing of seasoned firms like Shidax, which boasts over 60 years of experience in meal service and is adapting to industry needs with innovative approaches, the collaboration promises to bring meaningful change to the food service landscape in elderly care.

Oisix continues its mission to solve social issues through food by offering subscription delivery services featuring high-quality ingredients and meal kits. Their recent strategic moves, including supporting startups and initiatives aimed at reducing food waste, demonstrate a firm commitment to a sustainable and health-focused future.

As we look forward to the future of senior care in Japan, the collaboration between LacuS, Shidax, and Oisix stands as a beacon of hope and innovation in the food-tech industry, ensuring that older adults can enjoy not only nutritious, but also delightful meals that can enhance their quality of life.