Trending Now - Japanese Snack Packaging Goes Monochrome Amid Ink Shortage
WHO:
ABC News - Calbee Inc. is a Tokyo-based company that makes potato chips and cereal.
AP News - Calbee was founded in 1949 and employs more than 5,000 group workers.
WHAT:
ABC News - Calbee's lightly salted chips, known as “usu shio,” originally came in a bright-orange bag with an image of yellow chips and a potato-man mascot wearing a hat.
AP News - The company, which also makes shrimp chips, or “kappa ebisen,” had just announced an ambitious growth strategy in March.
ABC News - The packaging on 14 products from Calbee will change to black-and-white, limiting ink colors to just two.
AP News - Calbee stated, “This measure is intended to help maintain a stable supply of products.”
ABC News - The new packaging will start on May 25.
WHERE:
ABC News - The changes are occurring in Japan, where Calbee's snacks are available in convenience stores and shipped to the U.S., China, and Australia.
WHEN:
ABC News - The change in packaging will start on May 25.
WHY:
ABC News - The change is due to the war in Iran disrupting the supply of an ingredient used in colored ink.
AP News - The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz because of the war in Iran has caused supply crunches and increased prices of oil and other products.
HOW:
ABC News - Calbee is responding flexibly to changing geopolitical conditions to maintain a stable supply of products.
(UPDATED May 13, 2026 11:44 UTC)
Calbee has announced an ambitious growth strategy, building on its popular snack offerings. Their lightly salted chips, known as “usu shio,” originally came in a bright-orange bag featuring a potato-man mascot wearing a hat. In addition to these chips, the company is also known for its shrimp chips, or “kappa ebisen.”
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(UPDATED May 13, 2026 07:53 UTC)
Calbee Inc., the Tokyo-based company known for its potato chips and cereal, is set to change the packaging on 14 of its products to black-and-white, limiting ink colors to just two, starting on May 25. This decision comes in response to disruptions caused by the war in Iran, which has affected the supply of an ingredient used in colored ink, leading to increased prices and supply crunches. Calbee aims to adapt to these geopolitical conditions to ensure a stable supply of its snacks, which are available in convenience stores across Japan and shipped to markets in the U.S., China, and Australia.