Japanese chip giant Calbee back to full operation as potato supplies recover

Japanese snack giant Calbee’s operations have returned to normal, following a potato shortage that disrupted the production of 15 of its potato chip brands. It has launched new flavors after benefitting from a disease-resistant potato that has increased Japanese potato production. The company used the ‘downtime’ to develop new snack products and diversify its sources of raw materials. Calbee spokesperson Kazuka Nohara told BakeryandSnacks.com the company has transformed some of its rice paddies into potato fields in order to avoid another potato shortage. Calbee has also been developing a disease-resistant potato variety called Poroshiri, which it will use for its snacks, said Nohara. More