How A Whole Foods Exclusive Led So Many To Fall IN LOVE with Issei Mochi Gummies! Mika Shino of Issei Mochi Gummies

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In this episode of the Thirsty Thursdays Podcast, I talked with Mika Shino, founder of Issei Mochi Gummies, to discuss her incredible journey from Kyoto, Japan to building one of the most innovative better-for-you snack brands in the U.S. 👏🍷 🎇 🎉 ✨ 👏 🥂 😁

Mika shares how her background in jazz, opera, technology, and international work with the UN shaped her creative approach to entrepreneurship. With no formal experience in the food industry, she set out to create a healthier candy option after feeling uneasy about giving her children traditional gummy candies filled with artificial ingredients and gelatin.

What started as homemade treats for her two boys quickly became a neighborhood favorite as their friends began asking for them too. From that small kitchen experiment, the idea was born—and the brand grew from there. 

Issei Mochi Gummies—a unique, rice-based gummy made from simple ingredients like rice and water, delivering a chewy texture with all-natural flavors. The product is gluten-free, vegan, and intentionally less sweet, offering a cleaner alternative in the candy aisle. She 

Mika explains the difficult early stages of launching the brand, including the challenge of finding manufacturers willing to work with her clean ingredient requirements. She even hand-managed production for the first order when Whole Foods placed an exclusive launch across 170 stores, requiring over 3,000 pounds of mochi gummies.

The conversation explores the cultural meaning behind the brand name Issei, which pays tribute to first-generation Japanese immigrants who bring the best of their heritage to America. Mika also shares how building the company in the U.S. helped open doors to exporting the product back to Japan, where entering the food industry without family connections is extremely difficult.

Jessie and Mika also discuss:

• The inspiration behind mochi gummies and their clean ingredient philosophy
 • Lessons from launching in Whole Foods and Sprouts
• Her Target launch
• Winning Most Innovative New Product at the Sweets & Snacks Expo
• Being named #2 Female Founder by Inc Magazine in 2024
• How jazz philosophy influences her leadership and business mindset
• Why personal customer engagement is central to her brand

Mika also offers honest insight into the realities of entrepreneurship—from manufacturing struggles to retail scaling—and shares advice for founders: start before you feel ready and don’t let fear of failure stop you.

This episode is a powerful story about culture, innovation, and building a mission-driven brand that brings healthier snacks—and immigrant spirit—to the global stage.

Learn more about Issei Mochi Gummies:
https://mochigummies.com

Media features:
CBS Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJRBx1BN5dM

Food Institute Spotlight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIyAypJ-rj4

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