10 healthy novelties that delight at company events
Summary of this article
Demand for healthy novelties at company events is expanding along with the spread of 19,000 Certified Health & Productivity Management Organizations. This article compares ten types—dried-vegetable soup, nuts, vegetable chips, herbal tea, amazake, and more—at a guide price of 200-800 yen each, and introduces concretely the five selection criteria (allergy accommodation, shelf stability, employee demographics, budget) and budget allocation by company size from 50 to 1,000 people.
TOC
Company-event novelties—is "a towel and a ballpoint pen" still okay?
Employee general meetings, founding anniversaries, safety conventions, year-end parties. If you're in the general-affairs department, you've surely agonized at least once over whatNoveltiesto hand out at every company event.
Towels, ballpoint pens, mugs. Picking the usual standard items is safe, but the recipients say "thank you" and quietly tuck them into a desk drawer. Honestly, you've probably half-noticed they're not being used.
In recent years, in step with the push for health management, more companies are switching to "healthy novelties." This article compiles ten healthy novelties employees are glad to receive, along with the points to consider when choosing.
The relationship between health management and novelties
With the spread of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's "Certified Health & Productivity Management Organization" recognition system, companies working on employee health promotion are increasing year by year. As of 2024, the number of certified organizations reached about 19,000, combining large enterprises and small-and-mid-size enterprises.
Amid this trend, handouts at company events are increasingly chosen with "health" in mind. Being able to convey through a novelty the message that "our company is serious about employee health" also leads to higher employee satisfaction.
The background to demand for healthy novelties
| Background | Details |
|---|---|
| Spread of health management | Concrete measures are required to obtain certification |
| Telework taking root | Lack of exercise and disordered eating become internal issues |
| Competition for talent | An era where fuller benefits directly drive hiring power |
| Shifting employee values | A tendency to value experience, health, and self-care over things |
Ten healthy novelties
We introduce ten healthy novelties that were actually well received at company events. We've also organized cost feel, ease of handing out, and employee response.
At-a-glance comparison table
| Rank | Novelties | Unit-price guide | Shelf stability | Healthiness | Recommended scene |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dried-vegetable soup set | 300-800 yen | ◎ | ◎ | Company-wide events, health week |
| 2 | Nuts & dried fruit | 200–500 yen | ◎ | ○ | For desk workers |
| 3 | Dried vegetable chips | 200-400 yen | ◎ | ◎ | Trade shows, casual events |
| 4 | Organic herbal tea | 150-400 yen | ◎ | ◎ | Workplaces with many women |
| 5 | Granola single-serve pack | 200-400 yen | ○ | ○ | Workplaces where many skip breakfast |
| 6 | Amazake pouch | 200-350 yen | ○ | ○ | Winter events |
| 7 | Dried-vegetable furikake | 150-300 yen | ◎ | ◎ | Workplaces with many bento-bringers |
| 8 | Protein bar | 150-300 yen | ○ | ○ | For physical-labor sites |
| 9 | Dashi pack | 200–500 yen | ◎ | ◎ | Workplaces with many cooking lovers |
| 10 | Fruit-vinegar mini bottle | 300-600 yen | ○ | ○ | Beauty-conscious workplaces |
No. 1: Dried-vegetable soup set
Dried-vegetable soup, which gives you a vegetable-packed soup just by adding hot water, is superbly convenient at the office. Many employees drink it instead of cup noodles during a busy lunch break, and they're sometimes asked, "Where can I buy this?"
Agriture's dried vegetables use domestic vegetables sourced from Kyoto contract farmers, so the keywords "domestic" and "additive-free" resonate with health-conscious employees. Making a set of 3-5 kinds of soup adds the fun of choosing, too.
No. 2: Nuts & dried fruit
Recognized as a healthy snack, so the barrier to acceptance is low. Individually packaged, they're easy to keep on the desk. However, since some employees may have nut allergies, checking allergy labeling and notifying in advance is essential.
No. 3: Dried-vegetable chips
"Vegetable snacks" are appealing because you can eat them without the guilt of junk food. Combining colorful vegetables likeCarrot, lotus root, andkabochaalso gives visual impact. Non-fried dried-vegetable chips can be handed out with confidence even to those watching their calories.
No. 4: Organic herbal tea
Caffeine-free herbal tea is perfect for an afternoon refresh. Individually packaged tea bags are easy to hand out and can be enjoyed a cup at a time.Preparing several kinds—chamomile, rooibos, mint—adds the fun of choosing.
No. 5: Granola single-serve pack
Suited to companies with many employees who skip breakfast. Handing it out together with an "Eat breakfast" campaign makes it easy to report as a health-management measure too. However, since overly sweet granola dilutes the "healthy" feel, choose one with reduced sugar.
No. 6: Amazake pouch
Amazake, also called a "drinkable IV drip," is especially welcome at winter events. A non-alcoholic amazake made from rice koji is safe even for employees who can't handle alcohol. The pouch type keeps at room temperature and is convenient to carry.
No. 7: Dried-vegetable furikake
At workplaces with many employees who bring a bento, furikake makes a practical novelty. It can be used not only over rice but as a topping for pasta and salad, so its range of use is wide. Furikake made with Agriture's dried vegetables can be chosen without chemical seasonings.
No. 8: Protein bar
Demand is high at physical-labor sites like manufacturing and construction. The trick is choosing one with reduced sweetness and high protein content. Overseas-brand protein bars are often too sweet, so we recommend products from domestic makers.
No. 9: Dashi pack
Dashi, the basis of Japanese cuisine, is welcomed by employees who cook. Dashi packs made with select ingredients like "kombu," "katsuo," and "shiitake" have a bit of a luxurious feel, too. A "vegetable dashi pack" arrangement combining dried vegetables is also possible.
No. 10: Fruit-vinegar mini bottle
Well received at workplaces with many beauty-conscious women. The mini-bottle type you dilute with water or soda also looks stylish. However, since glass bottles carry a risk of breaking when handed out, choose plastic containers or use cushioning material.
Selection criteria: five checkpoints to avoid failure
To help decide "they all look good, but which one really suits our company?" use these five checkpoints.
Checklist
| Checkpoint | Things to confirm |
|---|---|
| 1. Allergy accommodation | Does it contain any of the 8 specified raw materials? Are there any allergy declarations internally? |
| 2. Shelf stability | Is room-temperature storage possible? Does enough of the best-before date remain after handout? |
| 3. Employee age range and gender | For a mostly young workforce, prioritize social-media appeal; for a mostly veteran one, prioritize practicality |
| 4. Purpose of the event | For a health-promotion campaign, put the health appeal front and center |
| 5. Budget and quantity | Decide the per-person budget, then narrow down the product |
Allergy accommodation is the top priority
For internal handouts, allergy consideration is the company's responsibility. When handing out food containing nuts, wheat, or milk, always check the raw-material labeling and announce allergy information at handout. On that point, dried vegetables have the advantage of low allergy risk, as many products contain no specified raw materials.
How to think about budget
| Number of employees | Per-person budget | Total budget guide |
|---|---|---|
| 50 people | 500 yen | 25,000 yen |
| 100 people | 300-500 yen | 30,000–50,000 yen |
| 300 people | 200-400 yen | 60,000-120,000 yen |
| 1,000 people and up | 150-300 yen | 150,000-300,000 yen |
The larger the company, the more you need to keep the per-person unit price down, but going below 150 yen risks giving a "cheap" impression. You'll want to secure at least 150-200 yen.
We have materials available to help you understand vegetable-based novelties
- SDGs-friendly products using non-standard vegetables
- Delivery possible in as short as two weeks
- Small-lot support from 50 pouches
Handout ideas for company events
A little ingenuity in timing and method changes the recipient's impression even with the same novelty.
Handout timing by event
| Events | Recommended handout timing | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Employee general meeting | At venue reception | Choose a timing that's less of a burden to carry than at departure |
| Health week | One kind each day | The week's buzz keeps going and health awareness continues |
| Founding anniversary | Placed on desks in advance | Creates a sense of surprise and is well received |
| Year-end party | As a game prize | Making it a game rather than handing to everyone livens things up |
| Safety convention | At departure after the end | Add a message linking safety awareness and health awareness |
The effect of a message card
Just adding a short message like "With daily gratitude" or "Let's put health first and do our best again this year" greatly changes the impression. Including the name of an executive or department head gives a real sense that "the company genuinely cares," contributing to higher engagement too.
Shipping to remote-work employees
At companies where telework has taken root, consider shipping to homes in addition to handing out at the office. Dried-vegetable sets can be made in sizes that fit Nekopos or Yu-Packet, so nationwide shipping at low postage is possible.
Points for reporting it as a health-management measure
Handing out healthy novelties is positioned as an "eating-habit improvement measure" of health management.
Angles for reporting it as a measure
| Item | Example entry |
|---|---|
| Measure name | Healthy novelty handout program |
| Purpose | Improving employees' vegetable intake and raising awareness of eating habits |
| What was done | Handed out dried-vegetable sets to all employees at a company event |
| Number of recipients | All 300 employees |
| Frequency | Twice a year (founding anniversary, health week) |
| Effectiveness measurement | A post-handout survey investigating satisfaction and changes in eating-habit awareness |
How to measure effect
Running a quick survey after handout helps improve future rounds and can also be used as health-management reporting material. About three questions are enough.
- Satisfaction with the novelty (5-point scale)
- Whether they actually ate/used it (Yes/No)
- Whether they'd like such measures to continue (Yes/No)
To raise the response rate, an effective approach is a Google Form survey answerable in 30 seconds, with a lottery among respondents for an additional gift.
Using dried vegetables,Internal-use healthy noveltiesplease feel free to consult us about the planning and manufacturing of.
We have materials available to help you understand vegetable-based novelties
- SDGs-friendly products using non-standard vegetables
- Delivery possible in as short as two weeks
- Small-lot support from 50 pouches
Summary
Switching company-event novelties to healthy food benefits both employee satisfaction and the company's health management.
Let's revisit the selection points.
- The switch from standard stationery to food novelties is advancing
- Dried-vegetable soup and chips excel in healthiness, shelf stability, and low allergy risk
- Check allergy accommodation as the top priority
- Handout timing and a message card change the impression
- Measure the effect so it can be reported as a health-management measure
At Agriture, we produce healthy novelties for company events from 100 units. We propose combinations of dried-vegetable soup, chips, furikake, and more tailored to employee preferences and the event's purpose, so general-affairs staff, please feel free to consult us.
FAQ
Recommended reading
Commercial dried vegetables / Drying processing service / Contract processing service / How to use yuzu peel | 10 practical ideas you can use instead of throwing it away / Food OEM prototype-cost benchmarks and how to cut them | 10 points for cost reduction
Download the novelty materials
We will send the materials to your email address based on the information you provide.
規格外野菜・自社野菜での商品開発をお考えの方へ：企画から加工・資材・パッケージ印刷・ノベルティまで、窓口ひとつでご相談いただけます。→ 商品開発ワンストップの詳細はこちら
- A food novelty strategy that raises brand strength through trade show handouts
- Dried Vegetable Price Ranges: Supermarket and Online Guidelines and How to Choose by Volume
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