Calbee potato chips packaging to switch to black-and-white from May 25 amid ink shortage
Calbee will print some potato chips packaging in black and white from May 25 after naphtha-linked ink supplies faltered amid Middle East unrest, retailers told.
Calbee potato chips packaging will be printed in two colors rather than full color for certain products beginning with shipments from May 25, the company has informed retail partners. The change, disclosed to buyers this week, is a response to a tightening of printing-ink supplies derived from naphtha, industry sources said. The shift affects some of Calbee’s flagship potato chip lines and could foreshadow broader packaging changes across the food sector if supply strains persist.
Calbee notifies retailers of two-color packaging
According to notices seen by retailers, Calbee will substitute black-and-white printing for some current full-color designs on bags and pouches shipped after May 25. The company indicated the move is temporary and tied to immediate production and distribution constraints.
Retail buyers said the notice arrived by email and formal supplier communication, giving stores time to adjust shelf displays and point-of-sale materials. Calbee has not announced a definitive end date for the two-color packaging.
Ink supply disruption linked to naphtha shortages
Manufacturers and printers cited by retailers pointed to an upstream bottleneck in naphtha, a petroleum-derived feedstock used to produce many printing inks. Recent volatility in parts of the Middle East has disrupted crude and naphtha flows, traders said, reducing availability for ink producers.
Printers further reported longer lead times and allocation measures for certain pigment inks, pushing some food companies to adopt reduced-color layouts to maintain shipment schedules. Officials in the chemical and packaging sectors described the current situation as supply-constrained rather than an immediate production stoppage.
Affected products and shipment schedule
Sources responsible for merchandising at major supermarket chains identified several of Calbee’s core potato chip items among those slated for revised packaging, though precise SKUs varied by distributor. The change will apply to outgoing cartons and retail-ready units produced after May 25, allowing warehouses to sell existing inventory with current labels first.
Shippers expect a transitional period in which both full-color and two-color packages appear on shelves, complicating stock-keeping and promotional signage. Retailers said they would coordinate with store teams to update planograms and avoid customer confusion.
Possible ripple effects across food industry
Packaging suppliers and procurement managers warned that other food makers reliant on naphtha-derived inks may face similar pressures if the supply situation continues. Small and medium-sized manufacturers, which have less bargaining power with printers, could be particularly exposed to allocation decisions.
Analysts noted that packaging design adjustments are a common contingency when raw-material availability tightens, but repeated or prolonged changes can affect brand recognition and promotional campaigns. Consumer-packaged-goods firms may also see rising costs if alternative ink chemistries or expedited logistics are required.
Calbee’s response and contingency plans
Calbee provided retailers with a brief advisory describing the change as a temporary measure tied to external supply conditions, according to people familiar with the notices. The company emphasized plans to resume regular four-color printing as soon as supply stabilizes, the sources said.
Calbee also indicated it would work with printing partners to prioritize products and maintain the visual integrity of key brand elements such as logos and nutrition labels. The firm has not released a public statement with detailed timing or an estimate of how many units will be produced under the two-color scheme.
Retailers and consumers prepare for visual change
Supermarket chains said they will treat the two-color packages as equivalent to the standard product for price and promotion purposes, and that inspection processes would remain unchanged. Store staff will be briefed to help customers identify products that may have altered packaging but unchanged contents.
Consumer reaction is expected to be muted for basic snack items, industry observers said, although limited-edition or seasonal runs could be more affected where color and artwork are central to appeal. Retail marketing teams are weighing display adjustments and possible customer notices to minimize confusion.
The move by Calbee highlights how global supply-chain events can ripple into everyday consumer goods and packaging choices in Japan. For now, the company and its retail partners appear focused on keeping shelves stocked while monitoring raw-material flows and working toward a return to the usual full-color packaging once ink supplies normalize.
