A workshop to create new product ideas for “dog snacks” with consumers and generative AI will be held in collaboration with “Morinaga & Co., Ltd.” on November 22nd (Friday) | Press release from NTT DX Partner Co., Ltd.

1. background

Morinaga & Co. was founded as a confectionery manufacturer in 1899 (Meiji 32), and over its 120-year history, Morinaga & Co. has faced various challenges, including the release of a portable milk caramel and Japan’s first integrated production of chocolate from cacao beans. We continue to provide a wide variety of products that remain in the memories of Japanese people. In 2021, the Morinaga Group will be reborn as a wellness company in 2030. We are promoting business activities with the aim of becoming a company that continues to provide three values ​​to customers, employees, and society: mental health, physical health, and environmental health.

Morinaga & Co. has taken the opportunity to further refine its core technology for providing delicious food, which has been cultivated over many years, and to develop products that will further delight our customers, from the perspective of “making everyday life more enjoyable with pets (dogs).” Morinaga & Co., Ltd. and NTT DX partners will hold a “Consumer Participation New Product Idea Creation Workshop” to generate new product ideas.

2.Workshop overview

■Date: Tuesday, November 22, 2024 12:30-17:00 (Registration starts at 12:00)

■Location: 1-13-16 Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Morinaga & Co., Ltd. Head Office)

■Morinaga & Co.’s technology used: confectionery technology for biscuits, chocolate, ice cream, etc.

■Workshop theme: “There are dog treats.”

■Participants: Approximately 20 consumers recruited through the X community and approximately 6 Morinaga & Co., Ltd. employees

■How to apply for participants

・Application deadline: Until 17:00 on Friday, November 15, 2024

・We will recruit 20 people on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications will be closed as soon as the capacity is reached.

・Please check and agree to the terms and conditions listed in the form below before applying.

Click here to apply

■Speakers:

Morinaga & Co. Katsunori Ando

NTT DX Partner Producer Park Jae-moon

■Workshop flow

■Divide into teams and brainstorm “things that would be nice to have” (40 minutes)

・In accordance with the workshop theme, each team will share as many “somethings” as possible.

■For each team, choose 4 or 5 representative “Araru” that you can most relate to from among the many “Araru” (15 minutes)

■Each team creates a fictitious product using the fictitious product mall’s generation AI function based on a typical “something,” and from among them, selects one fictitious product that they think is the best. Preparation for presentation (60 minutes)

■Presentation of fictitious products by each team (20 minutes)

■Determining representative fictitious products based on participant voting and review by judges (speakers) (25 minutes)

3. Future initiatives

As a sustainable company that continues to grow, Morinaga & Co., Ltd. will continue to fulfill its mission (purpose): “The Morinaga Group will continue to create healthy food that is loved by generations, and serve people around the world.” We will continue to create food that keeps the mind and body healthy, and contribute to the realization of a sustainable society where everyone can live with a smile on their faces.With this idea as the foundation of all our corporate activities, we will continue to create food that keeps the mind and body healthy, and contribute to the realization of a sustainable society where everyone can live with a smile on their face.

NTT DX Partners aims to further develop local industries by turning the new product development of local manufacturers into a successful experience through the new product production business.

■Contact information for inquiries regarding the “fictitious product mall” provided by NTT DX partners

NTT DX Partner Corporation

　Mail：[email protected]