Koikeya
{{Short description|Japanese snack food company}}
Koikeya or Koike-ya is a Japanese snack food manufacturer.{{Cite web |date=2016-06-30 |title=Japanese snack food maker Koikeya extends line of 'breakfast' potato chips {{!}} PotatoPro |url=https://www.potatopro.com/news/2016/japanese-snack-food-maker-koikeya-extends-line-breakfast-potato-chips |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Potato Pro |language=en}} As of 2019 it was the second-largest manufacturer of potato chips in Japan.{{Cite web |date=3 October 2019 |title=Not chasing the industry leader! The new Koikeya takes on the challenge of pioneering new markets |url=https://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/cambria/backnumber/2019/1003/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=TV Tokyo |language=ja}}
The company was founded in 1958 by Kazuo Koike, who was in the snacks business when he first tried potato chips at an izakaya. The company was the first in Japan to mass-produce potato chips. The company developed several unusual flavors such as "Karamuucho" and "Don Tacos".
The company makes chips in various flavors, such as "Wild Shiso Ume" and "Demon Consomme".{{Cite web |date=2021-07-06 |title=Koikeya’s STRONG chip series goes wild for summer with Wild Shiso Ume and Demon Consomme flavor chips |url=https://japantoday.com/category/features/food/koikeya%E2%80%99s-strong-chip-series-goes-wild-for-summer-with-wild-shiso-ume-and-demon-consomme-flavor-chips |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Japan Today |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Michel |first=Patrick St |date=2018-04-14 |title=Koikeya's 'strong' potato chips scream flavor, but do they deliver? |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2018/04/14/food/koikeyas-strong-potato-chips-scream-flavor-deliver/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=The Japan Times |language=en}} It makes chips with specialty flavors local to certain areas, such as Akaushi beef-flavored chips in Kyushu.{{Cite web |last=Shimbun |first=The Yomiuri |date=2023-09-03 |title=Akaushi Beef-Flavored Chips Debut to Promote Kyushu Area |url=https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/features/delicious/20230903-132904/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Japan News |language=en}}
It makes potato chips in flavors such as "toast" and "milk" meant to be eaten for breakfast.