Calbee has transitioned the packaging of 14 products to black-and-white designs following a shortage of naphtha-derived ink [3].
The shift highlights the vulnerability of Japanese consumer goods to raw material disruptions and the ongoing inflationary pressure on the nation's food supply.
Starting May 25, the company began replacing multi-colored packaging with two-tone black-and-white versions for items including potato chips, Kappa Ebisen, and Frugra [3]. A Calbee spokesperson said the company decided to change the packaging for 14 products [3].
The shortage is linked to a decline in domestic naphtha production, which fell approximately 22.8% in April compared to the previous year [1]. This chemical is essential for the production of various industrial inks.
Reports on the cause of the shortage vary. Some sources attribute the instability to tensions in the Middle East affecting raw material procurement [4]. However, Ryosei Akazawa, the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, said the cause was a concentration of periodic maintenance at production facilities during April [2].
Akazawa said he expects production levels to return to 100% from April onward [2]. He also said that the current situation does not mean citizens need to feel anxious [2].
Beyond packaging changes, the broader food market continues to face price volatility. Approximately 1,078 food items are expected to undergo significant price increases in June [1]. This wave of price hikes adds further strain to household budgets already impacted by rising costs of living.
“Calbee has transitioned the packaging of 14 products to black-and-white designs”
The move by Calbee serves as a visible indicator of 'shrinkflation' and cost-cutting measures extending beyond product size to basic aesthetics. While the government attributes the naphtha shortage to temporary maintenance schedules, the intersection of geopolitical tension and industrial fragility suggests that Japanese supply chains remain highly susceptible to external shocks, leading to both visual changes in branding and direct price increases for consumers.
