Sorry guys, but no more pick-and-mix cups, cones or parfaits of tantalizingly delicious Häagen-Dazs ice cream will be available in Japan as of Friday, the last of the well-known brand’s outlets is scheduled to close up on April 25.
Though you’ll no longer be able mix your favorite flavors into a cup of scrumptiousness at a Häagen-Dazs-branded shop, the purveyor of pleasurable experiences (or so the ads tell us) will continue to sell pre-packaged offerings at convenience stores and supermarkets throughout the country.
So I can still get Häagen-Dazs at the supermarket, what’s the big deal you ask? Well, the brick-and-mortar locations carried flavors and creations not available in off-the-shelf form.
No longer will you able to enjoy the brand’s green tea-flavored ice cream with rice flour dumplings and sweat red bean paste. Hold it! Maybe we’ve discovered the reason they needed to close down!
Or perhaps it was because purple-fleshed sweet potato (murasaki imo) wasn’t a big seller?
I doubt it. Just because my own palate isn’t sophisticated enough to enjoy such tongue-tantalizing temptations is hardly reason to condemn the Japanese market team at the flavor research lab.
If you want to get your last fix of store-original creamy stuff, head to the brand’s last shop in Shin-urayasu, Chiba, where they are having a cup-of-three-favorites-for-500-yen special through the 25th. For an additional 100 yen you can a whipped cream topping.
Häagen-Dazs will continue to operate a location at the Gotemba Premium Outlet Mall; however, it only sells pre-packaged servings at discounted prices; no sundaes, cones, or other store-only creations are available.
If you need your ice cream in a waffle cone or served with a side of brownies, not to worry; Baskin-Robins, Cold Stone Creamery, Blue Seal, and Ben & Jerry’s are still around and more than happy to provide a fix for your cravings.
Die-hard fans shouldn’t give up hope, however, as other global brands such as Wendy’s and Burger King have all picked up stakes at one point, only to make comebacks a few years later.
[ Read in Japanese ]