Niigata Food Research Lab Tio Pepe to Launch Three Roasted Rice Bran Seasoning Mixes from March 2026

Niigata Food Research Lab Tio Pepe, based in Niigata City and led by Toshiyuki Watanabe, will begin rolling out three new products from March 2026 that make use of rice bran, a previously underutilized resource. The lineup consists of roasted rice bran seasoning mixes for lightly pickled vegetables, sesame-dressed dishes, and namul. The products apply the manufacturing technology behind the company’s rice bran furikake, which won the 2026 Social Products Award. Designed to solve the modern concern that maintaining a nukazuke rice bran pickling bed is troublesome, these new seasonings allow consumers to take in the full nutritional benefits of rice bran, including dietary fiber and vitamins, simply by mixing them with ingredients. The company describes the series as a new type of “edible health seasoning.” The products use naturally cultivated rice bran from Niigata. Rice bran generated during rice polishing contains abundant nutrients from brown rice, yet much of it is currently discarded without being fully utilized. Tio Pepe focused on this valuable resource in collaboration with Hitotanbatake, a cooperative of pesticide-free farmers in Niigata. Using the techniques of a chef with 30 years of culinary experience, the company suppresses rice bran’s distinctive off-notes while maximizing its roasted aroma, umami, and sweetness, transforming it into roasted rice bran. The products aim to address both social issues through the SDGs and consumers’ interest in maintaining health through gut care, matching current market demand for ethical consumption. Hitotanbatake operates under the concept of “creating Niigata where people can eat the world’s most delicious rice,” delivering agricultural products and processed foods while communicating farmers’ own values and stories. The products add three values to everyday meals. First, they add nutrition: dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals that are often lacking can be easily supplemented by mixing the seasoning into dishes. Second, they add flavor: the natural roasted aroma of rice bran is combined with carefully selected additive-free natural ingredients for a deep taste. Third, they add convenience: no rice bran pickling bed is required. Simply mix or massage the seasoning into vegetables to complete an easy side dish. The company uses only rice bran from high-quality pesticide-free rice, carefully grown from soil through rare natural cultivation. The lineup includes Roasted Rice Bran Light Pickle Mix, which contains kelp and has a mild saltiness that enhances the texture of vegetables; Roasted Rice Bran Sesame Dressing Mix, which combines the sesamin of black sesame with the roasted aroma of rice bran; and Roasted Rice Bran Namul Mix, which features an appetizing garlic aroma and can be served over rice as an easy bibimbap-style dish. The light pickle mix can be used with cucumber, celery, tomato, cabbage, steamed chicken, and more. By massaging it into cut vegetables, consumers can make lightly pickled vegetables in 10 minutes and eat the rice bran along with them. Going forward, the company is expanding its sales channels, mainly through wholesale to department stores, premium supermarkets, and organic specialty shops. Having started as a restaurant business, it is now moving into a new stage that integrates manufacturing and food education, working to maximize the value of regional ingredients. Toward realizing a “delicious society” from Niigata, the company welcomes media inquiries, tasting sample requests, consultations on new retail handling, and product development requests. Company overview: Niigata Food Research Lab Tio Pepe is represented by Toshiyuki Watanabe and located at 2F Sakae Building, 86-81 Higashinakadori 1-bancho, Chuo-ku, Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture. Its business includes restaurant operation, food manufacturing and development, and cooking class operation. URL: https://mayuwata001.stores.jp/ Contact: Niigata Food Research Lab Tio Pepe, Watanabe. TEL: 025-225-6677. Email: tiopepe0401@gmail.com