VERMICULAR Sustainable Store Opens Temporarily at Gotemba Premium Outlets
Aichi Dobby Inc. will open the “VERMICULAR SUSTAINABLE STORE” at Gotemba Premium Outlets, marking the brand’s first venture into outlet stores. The temporary store will operate from January 15 (Thursday) to March 2 (Monday), 2026. This initiative focuses on environmental considerations by offering products revitalized through a unique repair program, including items that customers no longer use and display models. Some products will also be available in sustainable store-exclusive colors, sold only at Gotemba Premium Outlets. Customers can purchase cast iron enamel pots, rice cookers, frying pans, tableware, and kitchen items at 15-35% off the regular retail price.
Background of the VERMICULAR Sustainable Store Opening
Vermicular has long offered a “Repair Program” to re-enamel cast iron enamel products, aiming for long-term customer satisfaction. In 2023, the brand further expanded its offerings with the “Recraft Program,” allowing for size changes and product updates to adapt to changing lifestyles. Over 16 years since its inception, Vermicular has faced new challenges in manufacturing and distribution, such as managing collected used products, unsellable display items, and out-of-spec tableware from the production process. Simultaneously, there has been a growing demand for second-hand goods, driven by increased awareness of SDGs and rising commodity prices. In response to these circumstances, Vermicular decided to open the sustainable store. The aim is to deliver beautifully restored products to new customers using the repair techniques cultivated over many years, resolving challenges in distribution and manufacturing, reducing waste, and offering a sustainable choice for society.
Product Lineup
The store will feature a range of products, including:
Cast Iron Enamel Products
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Oven Pot 1
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Oven Pot 2
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Ricepot
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Frying Pan
The “Oven Pot 2” will be available in special limited-edition colors for Gotemba Premium Outlets: “Pearl Pink” and “Natural Beige,” which were popular discontinued colors. “Matte Black” will also be offered.
Other Items
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Tableware
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Kitchen items (e.g., discontinued aprons, kitchen cloths, heat keepers)
Tableware products, despite minor variations in size or color during the manufacturing process that cause them to fall outside quality standards, present no issues in terms of usability.
How Vermicular Products are Reborn
Vermicular’s repair process ensures products are beautifully restored:
01 Product Inspection and Confirmation
Each display product and customer-returned item undergoes a thorough inspection at the factory.
02 Enamel Stripping
The enamel is carefully stripped from Vermicular cast iron enamel products, and the cast iron surface is prepared.
03 Re-enameling
Both the interior and exterior are re-coated with enamel.
04 Return to Customers
Each product is meticulously inspected, including for airtightness, before being packaged and sent to its new owner. For Ricepot products, both the pot (cast iron enamel pot) and the pot heater (heating unit) are inspected, with parts replaced and cleaned as needed.
Store Overview
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Store Name: VERMICULAR SUSTAINABLE STORE
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Location: Gotemba Premium Outlets Hillside 4525, 1312 Fukasawa, Gotemba City, Shizuoka Prefecture
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Opening Period: January 15 (Thursday) – March 2 (Monday), 2026 (tentative)
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Business Hours: (Jan & Feb) 10:00 – 19:00 (Closed Feb 26 (Thursday)); (Mar) 10:00 – 20:00
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Contact Number: 090-9276-8087
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Email Address: vermicular_outlet@vermicular.jp
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Store Area: 141.30㎡
About Aichi Dobby and VERMICULAR
Aichi Dobby, founded in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture in 1936, is a long-established casting manufacturer. In 2010, driven by the third-generation brothers’ desire to create the world’s best products from a local factory, the made-in-Japan cast iron enamel pot “Vermicular” was born. With the brand slogan “Live with homemade food,” Vermicular aims to deliver the joy of home cooking to people worldwide through a lifestyle that celebrates the natural flavors of ingredients.
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