Japan’s Snack Industry Feels Impact of Iran War as Calbee Switches to Black-and-White Packaging

BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA

The growing economic fallout from the war involving Iran is now reaching an unexpected corner of daily life in Japan, where one of the country’s largest snack manufacturers has begun changing its colorful packaging to black-and-white because of shortages tied to disruptions in the global oil supply chain.

Tokyo-based Calbee Inc. announced that several of its popular snack products will temporarily shift to simplified monochrome packaging as the conflict in the Middle East continues to disrupt supplies of materials used in printing ink.

The company said the contents of the products will remain unchanged, but packaging for 14 items in its lineup will begin transitioning to two-color printing starting May 25. The move reflects growing concerns among manufacturers over tightening supplies of oil-derived materials following disruptions to shipping routes and petrochemical production connected to the regional conflict.

Calbee said the decision was necessary to maintain steady product availability and respond quickly to changing geopolitical conditions affecting global supply chains.

“This measure is intended to help maintain a stable supply of products,” the company said in a statement.

The development highlights how the conflict surrounding Iran and the instability in the Middle East are beginning to affect industries far removed from energy markets and heavy manufacturing. Rising oil prices and disruptions to tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz have already caused concern across Asia, especially in countries like Japan that rely heavily on imported energy resources.

Japan imports nearly all of its oil, leaving businesses vulnerable to supply shocks and rising transportation costs whenever tensions escalate in the Gulf region. Although Japanese officials have attempted to calm fears by emphasizing the country’s strategic petroleum reserves, companies are increasingly feeling pressure from shortages of petroleum-based materials.

One of the most significant concerns has been tightening supplies of naphtha, a petroleum-derived product widely used in manufacturing plastics, chemicals, packaging materials and industrial printing inks.

For Calbee, the shortage has directly affected the colored inks used on its snack bags, forcing the company to simplify designs that have long been instantly recognizable to Japanese consumers.

Among the affected products is Calbee’s famous lightly salted potato chips, known in Japan as “usu shio.” The product traditionally comes in a bright orange bag featuring images of golden potato chips alongside the company’s familiar potato mascot character wearing a hat.

Under the temporary redesign, much of that colorful imagery will disappear, replaced by stark black-and-white lettering and simplified graphics aimed at conserving limited ink supplies.

The visual change has already attracted widespread attention online in Japan, where Calbee products are considered staples in convenience stores and supermarkets across the country. The company’s snacks are also exported internationally, including to markets in the United States, China and Australia.

Founded in 1949, Calbee has grown into one of Japan’s most recognizable food companies, employing more than 5,000 people globally and producing a wide range of snack foods including potato chips, cereal products and its well-known shrimp chips called “kappa ebisen.”

The packaging adjustment comes only months after the company announced an ambitious growth strategy aimed at expanding its international business and strengthening production capabilities.

Now, like many manufacturers around the world, Calbee is confronting the economic uncertainty created by geopolitical instability, rising raw material costs and fragile global logistics networks.

Industry analysts say the company’s decision may be an early sign of broader changes consumers could begin noticing if tensions in the Middle East continue to disrupt global trade and energy supplies. Businesses across sectors ranging from food production to cosmetics and consumer electronics are monitoring shortages of petrochemical materials that are essential for packaging, plastics and manufacturing components.

While Japan has so far avoided severe energy shortages, the country remains highly exposed to fluctuations in oil markets because of its dependence on imports. Economists warn that prolonged instability around the Strait of Hormuz could increase production costs for Japanese manufacturers and eventually raise prices for consumers.

Despite the challenges, Calbee emphasized that it remains committed to maintaining product quality and stable distribution while adapting to rapidly changing global conditions.

“Calbee will continue to respond flexibly and promptly to changes in its operating environment, including geopolitical risks, and remains committed to maintaining a stable supply of safe, high-quality products,” the company said. “We ask for your understanding.”

For many Japanese consumers, the black-and-white snack bags may serve as a visible reminder of how deeply international conflicts and supply chain disruptions can affect ordinary products on store shelves thousands of miles away from the battlefield.