Calbee Co., Ltd. will resume color printing on the front of six snack-product packages starting the week of May 27, 2026 [1].
The shift marks a gradual return to standard branding after the company was forced to strip color from its packaging to conserve raw materials. This decision highlights how geopolitical instability in the Middle East can directly impact the visual presentation of consumer goods in Japan [2, 3].
On May 12, 2026, Calbee announced it would switch to black-and-white packaging [4]. The company said ink and other raw-material procurement had become unstable due to the situation in the Middle East [2, 3]. To maintain production during the shortage, the company opted for monochromatic designs to save resources.
As supply chains stabilize, the company is implementing a phased recovery of its visual identity. For six products, including Potato Chips and Kappa Ebisen, color will return to the front side only, while the back remains black-and-white [1].
Two "Full Gra" products will return to full color on both sides of the packaging [1]. However, six other products will remain in black-and-white for the time being [1].
This tiered approach allows Calbee to manage its remaining ink reserves while restoring brand recognition on store shelves. The company said it has not specified when the final six products will return to full color [1].
“Calbee will resume color printing on the front side only of six snack-product packages.”
This incident illustrates the fragility of the global chemical and pigment supply chain. When geopolitical tensions disrupt the flow of raw materials, even non-essential aesthetic elements like packaging color become critical vulnerabilities for large-scale manufacturers, forcing them to adopt austerity measures to avoid total production halts.
