A hamburg steak made with onions from Kunneppu Town has been launched. The town, 石井食品, and 2 other parties collaborated, beginning sales in Hokkaido with a first-year target of 100,000 servings nationwide.
Sales of the new product “Hamburg Steak Made with Onions from Kunneppu Town, Hokkaido: Mild Onion Soy Sauce” began on 12 November at supermarkets and other outlets in Hokkaido. The retort pouch can be stored at room temperature and has a net weight of 148g, including 74g of solid content. A key feature of the product name is that it uses 100% specialty onions from Kunneppu Town.
The project was conducted as part of a 130th-anniversary project commemorating the founding of Kunneppu Town. The town development company ぷ, food manufacturer 石井食品, JAきたみらい, and Kunneppu Town collaborated on the development. The first-year sales target is 100,000 servings nationwide.
The sauce uses specialty onions from Kunneppu Town and has been prepared with a mild soy-based flavor inspired by the town’s sauce katsudon. Both large pieces of onion and finely chopped onion are blended to bring out texture and flavor. At the advance presentation event, more than 30 people tasted the product, and some expressed an interest in purchasing it for their families and using it in packed lunches.
Mayor Akira Ida (伊田 彰) described the process from concluding a comprehensive partnership with 石井食品 to commercializing the product, emphasizing the significance of using only onions from Kunneppu. The parties involved expressed hopes of expanding the product nationwide and raising awareness of the town, and also began an initiative for residents to share the town’s appeal nationwide through gift sales.