(New York, NY) – April 7, 2025 – Issei, the world’s first mochi gummy brand, welcomes engineer and entrepreneur Yamrot Ezineh as a Strategic Advisor. With extensive experience in process and chemical engineering, manufacturing facility designs, machinery setups, consumer goods, food production, and the restaurant industry, Ezineh will provide valuable insights and guidance as Issei Mochi Gummies continues to expand. Yamrot joins Brian Khoddam, founder of BOBABAM, another recently announced strategic advisor.
“We are thrilled and honored to welcome Yamrot as an Advisor. She is a dear friend and was instrumental in the inception of Issei. She walked into my kitchen one day during a playdate pickup with our kids and, with unwavering conviction, told me to drop everything and focus on the little mochi bites I was baking. She gave me the courage to turn this idea into a business, and her guidance was instrumental in establishing our facility today, from overseeing the architects for the process engineering setup. Yamrot is a phenomenal entrepreneur, an incredible business owner, and an exceptional engineer whose vast expertise will help propel us to the next level,” said Mika Shino CEO/Founder of Issei.
“Issei Mochi Gummies is redefining the candy industry with its commitment to innovation and quality. As a brand founded by a visionary female entrepreneur, it is breaking barriers and setting new standards in the market. I am excited to contribute my expertise to help drive Issei’s continued growth and expansion,” stated Ezineh.
Yamrot Ezineh is an experienced chemical engineer and entrepreneur with a proven track record of excellence in pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, and food production. With expertise honed through leadership roles at global industry giants like Unilever, Novartis, AstraZeneca, and Unilever, Yamrot has designed, commissioned, and launched multiple production plants across Africa and the UK, demonstrating her mastery in operational efficiency and innovation. At Unilever, she contributed to consumer goods production on a global scale, further refining her ability to deliver high-impact solutions in various industries.
Yamrot’s career is marked by her ability to bridge technical expertise with strategic vision. In the pharmaceutical sector, she played a critical role in optimizing manufacturing processes, ensuring quality, compliance, and scalability. In addition to her engineering accomplishments, Yamrot is the founder of a highly acclaimed Ethiopian restaurant, Letena’s in Washington, DC, known for its authentic cuisine and exceptional service. Through this venture, Yamrot celebrates her Ethiopian heritage while offering patrons a unique and immersive cultural experience.
Founded in 2022 by first-generation Japanese American entrepreneur Mika Shino, Issei has experienced remarkable growth, expanding its physical retail presence by over 1,300%. The brand is now available in more than 3,000 locations across the U.S., including major retailers like Target, Walmart, Whole Foods Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, Albertsons Stores, Raley’s, Hy-Vee, World Market, Pop Up Grocer, Bestie’s Vegan Paradise, The World Bank, and Central Market. Additionally, Issei collaborates with Compass Group, one of the largest restaurant service providers in the U.S., and exports its products to the Middle East. The company also ships directly to customers in all 50 states, as well as internationally to Canada, via Amazon, Walmart Marketplace, Faire, POD Foods, and Flip.
With innovation at its heart, the award-winning Issei has established itself as a premium, natural snack brand, pioneering an entirely new gummy category. Backed by a team of industry experts, Issei is driving transformative growth in the candy sector with an ambitious strategy that includes multiple first-to-market product lines in development. Issei is outperforming in the non-chocolate candy subcategory by 447.9% the natural expanded channel (SPINS, NPI, Natural Expanded Channel, Latest 52 Weeks, PE 12.01.2024). Issei is also now in the top 10 brands contributing to growth in the non-chocolate subcategory in the natural expanded channel (SPINS, NPI, Natural Expanded Channel, Latest 52 Weeks, PE 12.01.2024).
Rooted in the ancient Japanese tradition of mochi—a cherished rice-based delicacy with centuries of history, often enjoyed during sacred ceremonies, celebrations, and expressions of gratitude—Issei redefines snacking. Issei offers a unique textural experience with soft, pillowy, and satisfyingly chewy treats—striking a perfect balance between a gummy bear and a marshmallow. Designed with inclusivity in mind, Issei’s gummies meet the highest dietary standards and are suitable for a wide range of lifestyles. Mochi Gummies flavors—sour watermelon, tangerine, strawberry, mango, yuzu, and peach—are shelf-stable, kosher, and free from gluten, dairy, soy, and nuts. Crafted with a commitment to quality, all Issei Mochi Gummies are made without GMOs, animal-derived gelatin, or artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors. The latest award-winning new release, chocolate-covered Mochi Gummies, is also gelatin-free, kosher, and made without artificial colors or flavors. Recent releases feature special packaging for Valentine’s Day and Lunar New Year, with additional limited-edition launches planned for 2025.
Proudly manufactured in the United States, these innovative gummies can be enjoyed straight from the package or paired with ice cream, yogurt, oatmeal, pudding, or your favorite desserts, offering endless possibilities for indulgence.
Watch Mika Shino talk about the company here on a recent Fast Company panel at SXSW.
Issei Mochi Gummies Awards
- 2025 FoodBev Media’s World Food Innovation Best Confectionary Product Award-Winner
- 2024 Sweets & Snacks Expo – Most Innovative New Product Award – Small Business Innovator -Chocolate-Covered Mochi Gummies- Winner
- 2024 Nourish Awards -Chocolate-Covered Mochi Gummies-Winner
- 2024 Vegan Choice Awards- Winner
- 2024 Startup CPG Shelfie Award – Candy Category- Finalist
- 2024 Inc. Magazine’s 2024 Female Founders Issue (Cover of Magazine Mika Shino + Ranked at #2 on the 200 female founder list -Winner
- 2024 Success Magazine’s 2024 Women of Influence Award- Mika Shino-Winner
- 2024 FoodBev Media’s World Food Innovation Best Confectionary Product Award- Winner
- 2024 TasteTV’s Best New Chewy Snack Award-Winner
- 2023 Stevie Award for the Best Fest Female Entrepreneur – Mika Shino-Winner
- 2023 Nosh’s Most Innovative New Product and Best of 2023 Awards- Finalist
- 2023 Best New Sweet Snack 2023 for the Nexty Awards at ExpoWest- Finalist
- 2023 TasteTV’s Best New Packaging and Best Texture Awards- Winner
- 2023 Mindful Awards- Chewy Candy – Product of the Year 2023- Winner
- 2023 Inaugural International Free From Food Awards -Recognition
- 2023 International Food and Drink Event World Food Innovation Awards- Winner
- 2023 Delicious Living- Best Bite Award- Finalist
- 2022 Nosh Best of 2022 Award- Finalist
About Issei Mochi Gummies
Founded in 2022 by first-generation Japanese American entrepreneur Mika Shino, Issei is a mission-driven, woman and minority-owned company pioneering the world’s first shelf-stable mochi snacks. By blending the centuries-old tradition of mochi with modern innovation, Issei is redefining snacking with a premium, gluten-free treat that offers a uniquely chewy texture and natural, subtle flavors. The original fruit gummy snacks are shelf-stable, kosher, and free of gluten, dairy, soy, and nuts. Most importantly, these delicious, chewy treats are crafted with a commitment to non-GMOs and are free of animal-derived gelatin, artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors. Issei products are readily accessible nationwide and also ship directly to customers in all 50 states and internationally to Canada, the Middle East, and on Amazon. As an award-winning brand, Issei is driving transformative growth in the candy sector with first-to-market innovations, fostering inclusivity, and bridging cultures through food. Available nationwide and shipping internationally, Issei delivers alternative snacking options for all.
Media Contact:
For Issei Mochi Gummies / Kerri Brusca kerri@mochigummies.com
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