[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"nav-categories":3,"article-instant-noodles-the-unsung-hero-of-global-thrift-in-a-cost-of-living-crunch":70},{"data":4},[5,37,57,64],{"name":6,"slug":7,"categories":8},"Productivity","productivity",[9,13,17,21,25,29,33],{"id":10,"title":11,"slug":12},17,"Branding","branding",{"id":14,"title":15,"slug":16},19,"Marketing","marketing",{"id":18,"title":19,"slug":20},20,"Work","work",{"id":22,"title":23,"slug":24},34,"Community","community",{"id":26,"title":27,"slug":28},21,"For newbies","for-newbies",{"id":30,"title":31,"slug":32},24,"Investment","investment",{"id":34,"title":35,"slug":36},22,"Finance","finance",{"name":38,"slug":39,"categories":40},"Tech","tech",[41,45,49,53],{"id":42,"title":43,"slug":44},28,"Technology","technology",{"id":46,"title":47,"slug":48},32,"Artificial Intelligence","artificial-intelligence",{"id":50,"title":51,"slug":52},26,"Security and protection","security-and-protection",{"id":54,"title":55,"slug":56},31,"YouTube Blog","youtube-blog",{"name":58,"slug":59,"categories":60},"News","news",[61],{"id":62,"title":58,"slug":63},18,"quasanews",{"name":65,"slug":66,"categories":67},"Business","business",[68],{"id":69,"title":65,"slug":66},16,{"post":71,"published_news":95,"popular_news":154,"categories":219},{"title":72,"description":73,"meta_title":72,"meta_description":74,"meta_keywords":75,"text":76,"slug":77,"created_at":78,"publish_at":79,"formatted_created_at":80,"category_id":69,"links":81,"view_type":84,"video_url":85,"views":86,"likes":87,"lang":88,"comments_count":87,"category":89},"Instant Noodles: The Unsung Hero of Global Thrift in a Cost-of-Living Crunch","In a world where grocery bills climb faster than inflation headlines, instant noodles have quietly become the ultimate survival food—cheap, shelf-stable, and deceptively satisfying","In a world where grocery bills climb faster than inflation headlines, instant noodles have quietly become the ultimate survival food - cheap, shelf-stable, and deceptively satisfying","Once dismissed as dorm-room desperation, they're now a $60 billion global industry, projected to swell to $80 billion by 2030 with a 5.9% CAGR, driven by urban millennials","\u003Cp>In a world where grocery bills climb faster than inflation headlines, instant noodles have quietly become the ultimate survival food - cheap, shelf-stable, and deceptively satisfying. Once dismissed as dorm-room desperation, they're now a $60 billion global industry, projected to swell to $80 billion by 2030 with a 5.9% CAGR, driven by urban millennials, cash-strapped families, and a post-pandemic love for no-fuss meals.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg alt=\"\" class=\"image-align-left\" height=\"447\" src=\"https://quasa.io/storage/photos/00/image - 2025-11-28T190744.616.jpg\" width=\"300\" />Asia-Pacific still devours 75% of the market, but Europe - where sales jumped 15% last year alone - is catching up, fueled by TikTok hacks and supermarket aisles stocked with exotic flavors. At the forefront? South Korea's noodle ninjas, turning poverty's punch into cultural cachet.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>The timing couldn't be more poignant. As living costs soar - global food prices up 14% since 2020, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization - consumers are trading gourmet for grams. Instant noodles deliver 400-600 calories for under $1 per serving, with a three-minute boil standing between hunger and satiety.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>In the U.S., where 40% of households report skipping meals to pay bills, noodle consumption rose 12% in 2024.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Europe saw a similar spike:\u003C/strong> Germany's discounters like Aldi reported 20% noodle sales growth, while the UK's Waitrose added Korean imports to its premium shelves. It's not just austerity; it's aspiration.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>These aren't your childhood Cup Noodles anymore - they're Instagram-ready bowls of umami, wrapped in K-pop glamour and fiery flavors that make thrift feel trendy.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>Enter Korea, the undisputed ramen renaissance leader. Producers like Nongshim and Samyang aren't just feeding the frenzy; they're fueling it with savvy branding that blends bold tastes, viral marketing, and relentless expansion. Nongshim's Shin Ramyun, the spicy beef classic launched in 1986, now sells 3 billion packs annually worldwide, holding a 20% share of South Korea's $2.7 billion domestic market. Samyang's Buldak (Fire Chicken) series, infamous for its "2X Spicy" challenge that scorched TikTok in 2023, catapulted the brand's market cap from $1.2 billion to $4.4 billion by mid-2025, overtaking Nongshim for the first time.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg alt=\"\" class=\"image-align-right\" height=\"447\" src=\"https://quasa.io/storage/photos/00/image - 2025-11-28T190746.154.jpg\" width=\"300\" />The secret sauce? Cultural alchemy. Korean noodles ride the Hallyu wave, where K-dramas and BTS have made gochujang a pantry staple. Nongshim struck gold with Netflix's animated hit "\u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/kpop-demon-hunters-netflix-s-new-frozen-in-a-shifting-animation-landscape\">KPop Demon Hunters\u003C/a>" in 2025, featuring Shin Ramyun as a plot device - hunters fueling up on spicy bowls before battling demons. The tie-in limited-edition packs, with character-branded cups, sold out in minutes domestically and boosted U.S. sales 25%.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>Samyang leaned into the heat with Buldak's "fire noodles" challenges, amassing 500 million social views and partnerships with influencers like \u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/slack-s-spin-into-the-spotlight-a-hilarious-hijack-of-mrbeast-s-death-defying-drama\">MrBeast\u003C/a>. Result? Overseas sales now comprise 80% of Samyang's revenue, up from 57% in 2020, while Nongshim eyes 60% by 2030.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>Expansion is turbocharged. Nongshim's new Busan mega-factory, breaking ground in Q4 2025, will churn out 500 million portions of Shin Ramyun annually - 95% for export, targeting Europe's 300 million-dollar jackpot.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>The Dutch subsidiary, opened in 2024, funnels products into Germany, France, and the UK, where sales are projected to quadruple by decade's end. In the U.S., Nongshim and Samyang together command nearly 30% market share, eroding Japanese dominance: Nissin, the longtime leader with Cup Noodles, has slipped to 25% from 35% in 2020, as American palates crave kimchi over katsu curry.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>Samyang isn't slouching. Its first overseas plant in China's Jiaxing province, a $148 million behemoth set for 2027 completion, will pump 840 million Buldak packs yearly - tailored for local tastes with milder spice levels. A European arm in Amsterdam handles 40-country distribution, sealed by a French distributor deal that opened doors to Carrefour shelves. Stateside, Buldak's viral status has Samyang eyeing a second U.S. facility, with vegan and low-sodium variants launching in 2026 to snag health-conscious \u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/gen-z-s-nostalgic-rebellion-the-400-camera-app-that-ditches-ai-slop-for-real-life\">Gen Z\u003C/a>.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cimg alt=\"\" class=\"image-align-left\" height=\"169\" src=\"https://quasa.io/storage/photos/00/image - 2025-11-28T190726.178.jpg\" width=\"300\" />Also read:\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cul>\n\t\u003Cli>\u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/gen-z-comes-of-age-how-brands-are-rushing-to-meet-their-evolving-demands\">Gen Z Comes of Age: How Brands Are Rushing to Meet Their Evolving Demands\u003C/a>\u003C/li>\n\t\u003Cli>\u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/beijing-just-drew-the-line-no-more-american-inference-chips-allowed\">Beijing Just Drew the Line: No More American Inference Chips Allowed\u003C/a>\u003C/li>\n\t\u003Cli>\u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/vietnam-s-biometric-banking-blitz-86-million-accounts-frozen-in-a-digital-identity-overhaul\">Vietnam's Biometric Banking Blitz: 86 Million Accounts Frozen in a Digital Identity Overhaul\u003C/a>\u003C/li>\n\t\u003Cli>\u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/japan-the-world-s-must-visit-destination-in-2025\">Japan: The World’s Must-Visit Destination in 2025\u003C/a>\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\n\u003Cp>Japan's Nissin fights back, building factories in Vietnam and India to undercut costs, but Korea's edge is cultural cool. While Japanese ramen evokes tradition, Korean versions scream adventure - fiery, photogenic, and meme-worthy. As poverty wraps itself in pretty packaging, these $1 bowls aren't just food; they're a flavorful escape. In a decade of squeezes, the noodle's simple steam signals resilience: when the world tightens belts, Korea serves spice - and smiles.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>Author: \u003Ca href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/in/slava-vasipenok/\">Slava Vasipenok\u003C/a>\u003Cbr />\nFounder and CEO of QUASA (quasa.io) — the world's first remote work platform with payments in cryptocurrency.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>Innovative entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in IT, fintech, and blockchain. Specializes in decentralized solutions for freelancing, helping to overcome the barriers of traditional finance, especially in developing regions.\u003C/p>","instant-noodles-the-unsung-hero-of-global-thrift-in-a-cost-of-living-crunch","2025-11-28T18:09:28.000000Z","2025-12-10T03:09:00.000000Z","10.12.2025",{"image":82,"thumb":83},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/QGTJ9TN0RPYJ5h4vv5cOoHHCQ7o9AsONjHbqx5s2.jpg","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/QGTJ9TN0RPYJ5h4vv5cOoHHCQ7o9AsONjHbqx5s2.jpg","small",null,953,0,"en",{"id":69,"title":65,"slug":66,"meta_title":90,"meta_description":91,"meta_keywords":92,"deleted_at":85,"created_at":93,"updated_at":94,"lang":88},"Quasa Media - Growth Hacking in Business","Business is a battlefield. In QUASA MEDIA you will find all the most useful articles on how to do business and not screw up.","Business, earn money, business strategy, business process","2021-08-03T10:59:17.000000Z","2024-08-25T15:45:11.000000Z",[96,109,120,132,143],{"title":97,"description":98,"slug":99,"created_at":100,"publish_at":101,"formatted_created_at":102,"category":103,"links":104,"view_type":84,"video_url":85,"views":107,"likes":87,"lang":88,"comments_count":87,"is_pinned":108},"Nostalgia Is Still King: Retro Video Rental Store Simulator Is a Massive Hit on Steam","In the age of instant streaming, it turns out a surprising number of people — including many who were born after Blockbuster went bankrupt — are craving the simple joy of renting physical movies.","nostalgia-is-still-king-retro-video-rental-store-simulator-is-a-massive-hit-on-steam","2026-03-25T18:41:36.000000Z","2026-04-08T06:35:00.000000Z","08.04.2026",{"title":43,"slug":44},{"image":105,"thumb":106},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/VvOooYMc2244q5hTV6Or5OMgr8schTPlzU8b4HXY.jpg","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/VvOooYMc2244q5hTV6Or5OMgr8schTPlzU8b4HXY.jpg",77,false,{"title":110,"description":111,"slug":112,"created_at":113,"publish_at":114,"formatted_created_at":102,"category":115,"links":116,"view_type":84,"video_url":85,"views":119,"likes":87,"lang":88,"comments_count":87,"is_pinned":108},"Hollywood Is Shrinking — And the Real Villain Isn’t Strikes or Wildfires, It’s the Government","American film and television production is in serious decline, and last week a surprisingly candid hearing in Burbank made one thing crystal clear: the biggest problem isn’t greedy studios, lazy writers, or California wildfires.","hollywood-is-shrinking-and-the-real-villain-isn-t-strikes-or-wildfires-it-s-the-government","2026-03-25T18:29:29.000000Z","2026-04-08T03:21:00.000000Z",{"title":65,"slug":66},{"image":117,"thumb":118},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/RZriu0EWvrhbleBD7g7RJnhk1QyPm4DDZeesC0bC.jpg","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/RZriu0EWvrhbleBD7g7RJnhk1QyPm4DDZeesC0bC.jpg",193,{"title":121,"description":122,"slug":123,"created_at":124,"publish_at":125,"formatted_created_at":126,"category":127,"links":128,"view_type":84,"video_url":85,"views":131,"likes":87,"lang":88,"comments_count":87,"is_pinned":108},"YouTube Is Tightening the Screws: Unskippable Long Ads Are Coming — Even If You Don’t Like It","YouTube has officially decided to stop pretending.In a move that many saw coming but hoped would never actually happen, the platform is rolling out longer, unskippable ads — and they’re starting with the TV app.","youtube-is-tightening-the-screws-unskippable-long-ads-are-coming-even-if-you-don-t-like-it","2026-03-25T18:13:01.000000Z","2026-04-07T11:07:00.000000Z","07.04.2026",{"title":55,"slug":56},{"image":129,"thumb":130},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/jDkf2DFZ7806GqMWYw0QxMTPHUHpgImLFgi4BTPE.jpg","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/jDkf2DFZ7806GqMWYw0QxMTPHUHpgImLFgi4BTPE.jpg",868,{"title":133,"description":134,"slug":135,"created_at":136,"publish_at":137,"formatted_created_at":126,"category":138,"links":139,"view_type":84,"video_url":85,"views":142,"likes":87,"lang":88,"comments_count":87,"is_pinned":108},"Stranger Things Is Heading to the Kitchen: Netflix Turns Overcooked into Its Next Big Franchise Play","Netflix is once again proving it will try literally anything to get you to open the Games tab.","stranger-things-is-heading-to-the-kitchen-netflix-turns-overcooked-into-its-next-big-franchise-play","2026-03-25T18:04:36.000000Z","2026-04-07T09:53:00.000000Z",{"title":58,"slug":63},{"image":140,"thumb":141},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/rOBSyjv4EZhVjNfbcHhgjnJKaY05XHB0FcOVRnXU.jpg","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/rOBSyjv4EZhVjNfbcHhgjnJKaY05XHB0FcOVRnXU.jpg",885,{"title":144,"description":145,"slug":146,"created_at":147,"publish_at":148,"formatted_created_at":126,"category":149,"links":150,"view_type":84,"video_url":85,"views":153,"likes":87,"lang":88,"comments_count":87,"is_pinned":108},"Showmax Shutdown Leaves African Screen Industry in Crisis — Filmmakers Now Bet Everything on Mobile Micro-Dramas","The mood across Africa’s film and TV community is unusually somber. After months of losses, Canal+ has officially pulled the plug on Showmax, its once-ambitious pan-African streaming service. The closure marks another major retreat by global platforms from the continent, leaving local creators wondering who will fund and distribute African stories in the years ahead.","showmax-shutdown-leaves-african-screen-industry-in-crisis-filmmakers-now-bet-everything-on-mobile-micro-dramas","2026-03-25T17:50:16.000000Z","2026-04-07T06:44:00.000000Z",{"title":65,"slug":66},{"image":151,"thumb":152},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/VNyFXzXDGJLKejycWNbh1ePKPbsVpyFGX2iMvqJ3.jpg","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/VNyFXzXDGJLKejycWNbh1ePKPbsVpyFGX2iMvqJ3.jpg",969,[155,168,182,194,207],{"title":156,"description":157,"slug":158,"created_at":159,"publish_at":160,"formatted_created_at":161,"category":162,"links":163,"view_type":84,"video_url":85,"views":166,"likes":167,"lang":88,"comments_count":87,"is_pinned":108},"The Anatomy of an Entrepreneur","Entrepreneur is a French word that means an enterpriser. Enterprisers are people who undertake a business or enterprise with the chance of earning profits or suffering from loss.","the-anatomy-of-an-entrepreneur","2021-08-04T15:18:21.000000Z","2025-12-14T06:09:00.000000Z","14.12.2025",{"title":65,"slug":66},{"image":164,"thumb":165},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/mVsXPTMuHZuI7UXCsENgL1Qwp1uSOf7Rz3uVPMfm.webp","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/mVsXPTMuHZuI7UXCsENgL1Qwp1uSOf7Rz3uVPMfm.webp",66984,2,{"title":169,"description":170,"slug":171,"created_at":172,"publish_at":173,"formatted_created_at":174,"category":175,"links":176,"view_type":179,"video_url":85,"views":180,"likes":181,"lang":88,"comments_count":87,"is_pinned":108},"Advertising on QUASA","QUASA MEDIA is read by more than 400 thousand people a month. We offer to place your article, add a link or order the writing of an article for publication.","advertising-on-quasa","2022-07-06T07:33:02.000000Z","2025-12-15T17:33:02.000000Z","15.12.2025",{"title":58,"slug":63},{"image":177,"thumb":178},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/45SvmdsTQbiyc3nxgbyHY1mpVbisYyub2BCHjqBL.jpg","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/45SvmdsTQbiyc3nxgbyHY1mpVbisYyub2BCHjqBL.jpg","large",66200,4,{"title":183,"description":184,"slug":185,"created_at":186,"publish_at":187,"formatted_created_at":188,"category":189,"links":190,"view_type":84,"video_url":85,"views":193,"likes":181,"lang":88,"comments_count":87,"is_pinned":108},"What is a Startup?","A startup is not a new company, not a tech company, nor a new tech company. You can be a new tech company, if your goal is not to grow high and fast; then, you are not a startup. ","what-is-a-startup","2021-08-04T12:05:17.000000Z","2025-12-17T13:02:00.000000Z","17.12.2025",{"title":65,"slug":66},{"image":191,"thumb":192},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/EOsQhSW3VXyG7a6NPdE1oZd00xfJXe3bjY5aJGb7.webp","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/EOsQhSW3VXyG7a6NPdE1oZd00xfJXe3bjY5aJGb7.webp",64811,{"title":195,"description":196,"slug":197,"created_at":198,"publish_at":199,"formatted_created_at":200,"category":201,"links":202,"view_type":84,"video_url":85,"views":205,"likes":167,"lang":88,"comments_count":206,"is_pinned":108},"Top 5 Tips to Make More Money as a Content Creator","Content creators are one of the most desired job titles right now. Who wouldn’t want to earn a living online?","top-5-tips-to-make-more-money-as-a-content-creator","2022-01-17T17:31:51.000000Z","2026-01-17T11:30:00.000000Z","17.01.2026",{"title":19,"slug":20},{"image":203,"thumb":204},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/gP8kiumBPpJmQv6SMieXiX1tDetx43VwFfO1P4Ca.jpg","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/gP8kiumBPpJmQv6SMieXiX1tDetx43VwFfO1P4Ca.jpg",39411,1,{"title":208,"description":209,"slug":210,"created_at":211,"publish_at":212,"formatted_created_at":213,"category":214,"links":215,"view_type":179,"video_url":85,"views":218,"likes":167,"lang":88,"comments_count":87,"is_pinned":108},"8 Logo Design Tips for Small Businesses","Your logo tells the story of your business and the values you stand for.","8-logo-design-tips-for-small-businesses","2021-12-04T21:59:52.000000Z","2025-05-05T03:30:00.000000Z","05.05.2025",{"title":15,"slug":16},{"image":216,"thumb":217},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/Wbx2NtS1CnTupgoQbpFMGspJ5jm4uob2hDOq33r0.jpg","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/Wbx2NtS1CnTupgoQbpFMGspJ5jm4uob2hDOq33r0.jpg",38916,[220,221,222,223,224,225,226,227,228,229,230,231,232],{"title":23,"slug":24},{"title":47,"slug":48},{"title":55,"slug":56},{"title":43,"slug":44},{"title":51,"slug":52},{"title":31,"slug":32},{"title":35,"slug":36},{"title":27,"slug":28},{"title":19,"slug":20},{"title":15,"slug":16},{"title":58,"slug":63},{"title":11,"slug":12},{"title":65,"slug":66}]