Snack Giant Switches to Black and White Packaging
Wednesday, 2026/05/13158 words2 minutes1998 reads
Calbee, Japan's largest snack manufacturer, is making an unusual change to its product packaging. Starting May 25, the company will temporarily use black and white designs for 14 of its popular products, including chips and prawn crackers.
The reason behind this decision is a supply chain disruption caused by the conflict in Iran. Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, an important waterway for shipping oil and related products. This has affected supplies of naphtha, a byproduct of oil refining that is essential for making colored ink.
Since the conflict began on February 28, naphtha prices in Asia have nearly doubled. Japan previously imported about 40% of its naphtha from the Middle East. The Japanese government is now working to find alternative suppliers, including sources in the United States.
Calbee stated that this packaging change will help maintain a stable supply of products during these challenging times. While the packages will look different, the snacks inside remain unchanged.
