--- title: "Meet the Ramen-Loving World Instant Noodles Association" id: "33026" type: "post" slug: "meet-the-ramen-loving-world-instant-noodles-association" published_at: "2016-04-20T20:33:49+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T15:58:07+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/04/20/meet-the-ramen-loving-world-instant-noodles-association/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/04/20/meet-the-ramen-loving-world-instant-noodles-association.md" excerpt: "The history of the organization that celebrates instant noodles. Plus: Facebook may soon let you get money for posts." taxonomy_category: - "Business Development" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "food industry" - "instant noodles" - "manufacturing" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Director" - "Executive Team" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Industry Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Meet the Ramen-Loving World Instant Noodles Association Instant noodles: the meal of champions on a budget and one of the key food groups of college students. While preparing a cup of noodles is simple enough, producing it is more complex than just adding water. Enter the [World Instant Noodles Association (opens in a new tab)](http://instantnoodles.org/en/index.html) (WINA), the organization bringing order and innovation to the world of instant noodles. The organization was founded in 1997 as the International Ramen Manufacturers Association (RIMA) by the mastermind behind the popular food, Momofuku Ando. Starting from humble beginnings, instant noodles were invented to solve a food shortage in Japan after World War II. Nearly 60 years after the first instant noodles were sold, the flash-fried noodles Ando created and refined in his Osaka kitchen have exploded into a booming international market. “WINA has a total of 67 instant noodle manufacturers from 21 different countries/regions as its regular members,” WINA Deputy Chief Executive Norio Sakurai [told Atlas Obscura (opens in a new tab)](http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/meet-the-association-upholding-the-integrity-of-instant-noodles) . “Besides noodle manufacturers, WINA has approximately 100 associate members, who are engaged in the businesses related to instant noodles such as suppliers of materials.” Headquartered in the [Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum (opens in a new tab)](http://www.instantramen-museum.jp/en/) , WINA works to uphold industry safety standards, hosts a World Instant Noodles Summit, and is even involved in disaster and hunger relief efforts. “Instant noodles have great potential to be a vehicle to supply customized micronutrients and functional substances,” says Sakurai. As instant noodles producers continue to expand and innovate, it just goes to show how big things can come in small packaging. ### Tweet of the Day https://twitter.com/socialfish/status/722795627613040641 **Don’t let a smaller staff or budget** get in the way of making your association shine. *SocialFish* contributor Maggie McGary shares [an extensive resource list (opens in a new tab)](http://www.socialfish.org/2016/04/resources-small-staff-associations/) that will have smaller organizations looking like industry leaders. ### Other Good Reads **Facebook posts may soon have a “tip jar.”** *The Verge*‘s [Casey Newton explains this latest development (opens in a new tab)](http://www.theverge.com/2016/4/19/11455840/facebook-tip-jar-partner-program-monetization) from the social media giant. **Crowdsourcing is growing.** Danielle Douglas-Gabriel of *The Washington Post* shines a light on how universities are [boosting their budget through crowdsourcing campaigns (opens in a new tab)](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2016/04/19/colleges-are-going-online-to-crowdsource-donations-and-theyre-raising-millions/) . **Refining your leadership skills** can start with some well-placed advice. *Huffington Post* contributor Bruce Tulgan asks Janet Kyle Altman, principal and marketing director for Kaufman Rossin Group, to share her [strategy for good leadership (opens in a new tab)](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bruce-tulgan/the-leadership-wisdom-of-_3_b_9720454.html) . (iStock/Thinkstock) [Eli Zimmerman](https://associationsnow.com/author/eli-zimmerman/) Eli is studying Journalism at the University of Maryland. When not studying, he likes to relax with a nice book or a couple rounds at the local boxing gym. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/eli-zimmerman/) Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#food industry](https://associationsnow.com/tag/food-industry/) [#instant noodles](https://associationsnow.com/tag/instant-noodles/) [#manufacturing](https://associationsnow.com/tag/manufacturing/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoPartnerships that Drive Success: ASAE Strategic Partnership AllianceAugust 26, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/26/partnerships-that-drive-success-asae-strategic-partnership-alliance/) - [VideoGenerate Leads and Brand Awareness: Master the ASAE MarketplaceJune 18, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/06/18/generate-leads-and-brand-awareness-master-the-asae-marketplace/) - [VideoUrban Land Institute- Project Recovery: Rebuilding Los Angeles After the January 2025 WildfiresSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/urban-land-institute-project-recovery-rebuilding-los-angeles-after-the-january-2025-wildfires/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: All for the Love of Chicago: Rethinking the Destination ExperienceSeptember 10, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/10/associations-now-presents-all-for-the-love-of-chicago-rethinking-the-destination-experience/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2016%2F04%2F20%2Fmeet-the-ramen-loving-world-instant-noodles-association%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !