Some Japanese snack packages are turning black-and-white as Iran war depletes ink supply
Key Points:
- Calbee Inc., a major Japanese snack maker, is switching to black-and-white packaging for 14 products starting May 25 due to disruptions in the supply of colored ink ingredients caused by the war in Iran.
- The company assures customers that the product contents remain unchanged despite the packaging shift, which aims to maintain stable product supply amid geopolitical challenges.
- The packaging change is linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and rising oil prices, which have affected the availability of naphtha, a key oil-derived ingredient used in ink production.
- Japan relies heavily on oil imports, and while the government has reassured the public about oil reserves, the conflict's impact is evident in Calbee's stark packaging redesign.
- Calbee, which recently announced growth plans, emphasized its commitment to flexibility and stable supply of high-quality products despite ongoing geopolitical risks.