Japanese food packaging is becoming more sober. Behind this new packaging, it's neither a fad nor a marketing makeover.âeuros In the space of a few days, two major Japanese food manufacturers, Calbee and Kagome, announced changes to their packaging in response to supply difficulties affecting certain printing inks.
Potato chip packets go dual-color
Snack manufacturer Calbee (340 billion yen in sales, or 1.8 billion euros) is limiting the printing of 14 products, including potato chips, snacks and cereals, to two colors. The new packaging will arrive progressively in stores from the week of May 25.
In a press release published on May 12, the Group explains that this decision was taken in response to a need to "supply instability affecting certain raw materials" linked to current tensions in the Middle East. This measure is designed to "maintain a stable supply of products" .
White disappears from flexible packaging
Two days later, the Japanese group Kagome (sales 294 billion yen, or 1.6 billion euros) announced a change in its plastic ketchup packaging. The manufacturer states that geopolitical tensions now affect "supply conditions for inks and paints" including the white ink used on its flexible packaging.
This white ink is used as an undercoat for printing on ketchup sachets, "has a limited number of possible alternatives in terms of printability" explains Kagome.
The group will therefore temporarily replace its printed ketchup packaging with more transparent versions with a reduced printed surface. The changeover is due to begin progressively at the end of May.
Kagome recognizes that this is a significant evolution for products whose design has long been established: "We regret that we have to modify a packaging that has been appreciated for years, but this measure is unavoidable in order to maintain a stable supply."
These announcements show that tensions over certain raw materials linked to inks are now beginning to have visible consequences for consumers.
