Wada Bento

About Wada Bento

Wada Bento, operating as Wada FoodTech, is a decentralized foodservice platform founded in 2018 by Jason Chen, Stephen Chan, Eric Ng, Kenny Yau, and Manabu Oikawa. The company originated from CEO Jason Chen's personal experience as a student in Japan and later as an office worker in Hong Kong, where he identified the lengthy queues for takeaway lunches as a significant pain point. Chen, who holds a master's degree in Electronics Engineering from the University of Tokyo and an MBA, leveraged his background in semiconductor and electronics projects to develop the company's core technology.

The firm has developed a patented hot-chain technology ecosystem that includes AIoT-enabled logistics and robotic vending machines. This system maintains meals at a constant temperature of over 65 degrees Celsius from a central kitchen to the point of sale, ensuring food safety and quality. The vending machines can dispense a hot bento box in as little as nine seconds, offering a significant time-saving alternative to traditional takeaway services. Wada Bento was the first company to be granted a hot bento vending machine license by the Hong Kong Government.

The company primarily operates on a Hardware-as-a-Service (HaaS) business model, providing a one-stop solution for food and beverage operators. This allows restaurant partners like Cafe de Coral and Cafe de Beans to expand their sales channels into high-traffic locations such as office buildings, hospitals, schools, and MTR stations without the high overhead costs of a physical restaurant. Wada Bento manages the technology, logistics, and sales points, while the partners focus on food preparation. Initially launched in Hong Kong, the company, now headquartered in Tokyo, has expanded its operations to Japan, Australia, Macau, and Vietnam, with plans to enter the UK and EU markets. The company has successfully raised over US$10 million in funding from investors including Golden Resources Development, Cyberport Macro Fund, and MindWorks ETEC Fund to fuel its global expansion.