In December 2020, we, the students of Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Washu Senior High School's Business Department, developed a new collaborative product through the "Kojimatching Project".
The collaboration was with products from the following two stores.
- Music and the best coffee: "Meikyoku Kissaten Tokinokairou"
- A ranch with a view of the sea: "Seaside Farm Namba Ranch"
The product name is "Brazilian Gelato".
This article introduces the third installment of the Kojimatching Project, "Brazilian Gelato".
This article is a contribution by students of the Business Department at Kurashiki Washu Senior High School. It has been re-edited and published by the Haretoco General Incorporated Association editorial team.
What is the "Kojimatching" Project?
The Business Department of Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Washu Senior High School and the Business Research Club are engaged in the "Kojimatching" Project, which aims to match existing products in the Kojima area to create new value.
The first installment was the pure Kojima product " Fig Gelato".
It was sold for about a month starting in September 2020, and sales were strong.
The second installment was "What is this? Strawberry Daifuku Gelato," created in collaboration with the long-established Japanese and Western confectionery store "Fubido".
As of December 2020, it is currently on sale.
About "Meikyoku Kissaten Tokinokairou"
The first store that collaborated in the third installment of the "Kojimatching Project" is "Meikyoku Kissaten Tokinokairou," located on a small hill in Shimotsui, Kurashiki City.
The café was opened in 2015 by the young master Kuroshita Kenta.
Stepping inside the café feels like entering another world, as if you have time-traveled.
Kuroshita-san carefully roasts and serves coffee that pairs well with music, having tasted various coffees from around the world.
Additionally, takeout and mail order options are available, allowing you to enjoy fragrant coffee at home.
About "Seaside Farm Namba Ranch Ice Cream Shop"
"Seaside Farm Namba Ranch Ice Cream Shop" is an ice cream shop that uses fresh milk produced through "a method of raising cows that does not cause them stress."
It opened on January 11, 2019.
The shop is located in a prime location overlooking the Seto Inland Sea.
We collaborated with the third-generation owner, Namba Kodai, to assist in the development of limited-time menu items.
Tasting Brazilian and Ethiopian coffee and coffee beans
For product development, we tasted two types of coffee, Brazilian and Ethiopian, available at Meikyoku Kissaten Tokinokairou.
Additionally, we were specially allowed to taste the coffee beans themselves.
The taste was... reminiscent of soybeans.
It was easy to eat, similar to roasted soybeans, and had a strong flavor!
The Ethiopian coffee beans had a fruity aroma, making them quite distinctive.
On the other hand, the Brazilian coffee beans had the familiar taste of coffee.
Having tasted both types of coffee beans, I felt like I had become a "high school girl who can tell the difference!" (laughs)
After that, I mixed the roasted coffee into the milk-flavored gelato from Namba Ranch.
Mixing in the Brazilian coffee created a nostalgic "coffee milk" flavor!
This was the moment the "taste" of the gelato for the third installment of the Kojimatching Project was born!
The name is "Brazilian Gelato"
There were several candidate names for the product, including:
- Coffee Milk
- Milk Coffee
- Café Latte
When we think of "Brazil" in Kojima, we think of "Brazilian Park Washuzan Highland".
We had no choice but to name it "Brazilian"!
With that thought, the product name was decided to be "Brazilian Gelato".
Furthermore, an unexpected event occurred.
In fact, shortly after the "Brazilian Gelato" was completed, on November 14, 2020, there was a free open day at Washuzan Highland.
Surprisingly, we were able to sell the new product on the free open day at Washuzan Highland!
Unveiling "Brazilian Gelato" on the free open day at Washuzan Highland
On Saturday, November 14, 2020, the free open day at Washuzan Highland was held.
With perfect autumn weather, the temperature rose, creating the best situation for gelato sales.
On that day, six members of the Business Research Club involved in gelato development sold the product.
Of course, the design of the labels to be attached to the cups was also handmade by us high school students.
We also created POP (point of purchase) displays for sales, ensuring we sold gelato with smiles for our customers.
On that day, the total sales exceeded 500 units, including other products, significantly surpassing our sales target.
Conclusion
The "Kojimatching" Project has reached its third installment, and a new product called "Brazilian Gelato" has been born.
However, there are still many materials in the Kojima area, so we want to continue further matching efforts.
Just as I was thinking that, a new "Kojimatching" was born on the free open day at Washuzan Highland.
In fact, there is a hint somewhere in this article...!
Stay tuned for future developments!!
Participants wanted for the "Kojimatching" Project
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is difficult to attract tourists from afar.
Therefore, we are considering measures to let local people know the goodness of our area, themed around "micro tourism."
The Kojima area has a variety of local specialties, and by effectively matching these, we can create new value.
We, the students of the Business Department at Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Washu Senior High School, want to take on the role of bridging this gap and learn about real business.
If you are interested, please contact Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Washu Senior High School.
