Cup Noodles® Announces Yntendo as Winner of "Just Warmin' Up" Competition to Open for Renowned EDM Group Cash Cash

GARDENA, Calif., March 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Nissin Foods®' iconic Cup Noodles® brand announced up-and-coming electronic artist Yntendo the winner of the beloved noodle brand's "Just Warmin' Up" competition, giving them the opportunity of a lifetime to open for renowned electronic artists Cash Cash. The aspiring DJs from Los Angeles will be performing on March 24, 2017 at the Avalon in Hollywood, Calif. – the heart of the electronic music scene – for their most epic show yet that is sure to open doors in the music industry.

This program, which is part of Cup Noodles' larger Just Warmin' Up campaign, seeks to champion warm-up acts, not only in the music world, but across all walks of life. The brand hopes this program will serve as a catalyst for what's next on the artist's path and will be an inspiration for others to continue following their dreams. This especially rings true in the electronic music space, where artists spend years trying to make a name for themselves and get their big break.

For Yntendo, they have been warming up for this moment their whole lives. The power duo, consisting of Alan Notkin and Apphia Castillo, have been producing music since their freshman year of high school and after meeting, decided to join forces to take the music industry by storm. Winning this Cup Noodles competition gets them one step closer to achieving their dreams and seeks to catapult them to the next level.

"We are incredibly grateful for this opportunity and could not be more excited to open for Cash Cash," said Castillo, also known by her stage name Phi. "We've been working so hard for so long, and to get the opportunity to bring our music to a wider audience and share the stage with a group that we love and respect and look up to as much as Cash Cash – it's honestly surreal. We're so appreciative to Cup Noodles for helping to make our dreams a reality, and we can't wait for the show."

Cup Noodles partnered with SoundCloud to select five up-and-coming DJs to participate in the competition, and each finalist had a featured track on SoundCloud.com/OriginalCupNoodles where fans could listen, like, comment or share their favorites. Yntendo's track "Straight Fire" ft. Kristen Collins – which is true to its name – garnered the highest level of engagement from fans. The group was ultimately selected by a judging panel consisting of Cash Cash and music fans from Nissin Foods, based on a combination of originality, creativity and popularity.

"Through this program, the Cup Noodles brand has been able to tap into our core noodle fans through a unifying passion point in music," said Leslie Mohr, VP of marketing for Nissin Foods USA. "We're so excited for Yntendo – we all loved their energy and music, and feel that they really embody the spirit of the up-and-coming artist we wanted to support through this campaign.  In the future, we hope we can continue to champion warm-up acts from across all industries."

Cup Noodles launched its Just Warmin' Up campaign at the end of 2016 alongside an announcement of a significant recipe change. For the first time in recent history, the beloved noodle brand took a step forward in improving its nutritional makeup by reducing sodium, removing added MSG and eliminating artificial flavors. The marketing campaign – the first major advertising and marketing initiative for the brand in the U.S. in decades – includes new digital and TV spots, a new voice on social media and other directives such as food festival sponsorships.

About Nissin Foods

Nissin Food Products Co. Ltd. was established by Momofuku Ando in 1958, who invented the first instant ramen noodle to Japan. In 1970, they established Nissin Foods (USA) Co., Inc. in Gardena, California introducing ramen noodles to U.S. consumers. In 1971, the company invented Cup Noodles, and revolutionized the industry by making it possible to package, prepare and serve noodles all in the same container. For nearly 60 years, Nissin Foods has been providing consumers with quick and delicious meal solutions.

In the U.S., Nissin Foods USA develops and markets a variety of products including Bowl Noodles®, Chow Mein, Cup Noodles^®, Ramen Bowl, Souper Meal^® and Top Ramen^® uniquely positioning them to meet the needs of today's busy lifestyles. The company's corporate philosophy inspires commitment to taste, convenience and quality.

SOURCE Nissin Foods