In an attempt to compete with the convenience store box lunches (box lunches sold at convenience stores), a new type of Ekiben was developed that were cooked and packed in foreign countries where the manufacturing costs were low, shipped to Japan after being frozen, and then sold after being defrosted.
弁当そのものを製造原価の安い海外で調製し、日本まで冷凍して運び解凍して販売することで、コンビニ弁当などと対抗することを目指した駅弁が開発されたことがある。