Calbee plans major expansions outside Japan

Calbee Inc. said it plans to increase its overseas sales to account for at least 30% of the Japanese snack maker's total by 2020 from roughly 3%, seeking to offset a dim outlook at home.

To help lay a groundwork for its push into markets outside Japan, the company will open production bases in the U.S. and China, with details to be unveiled in the "not too distant future,"Calbee Chairman and Chief Executive Akira Matsumoto said in an interview. "Our overseas business will jump into high gear from now on."Calbee already has some production facilities in both countries;the latest plans will involve ramping up output.

Calbee, in which U.S.-based PepsiCo Inc. has a stake, will then look to set up facilities in countries such as Australia, Russia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam or in Europe, he said. Eventually, Calbee may seek to extend its reach with facilities in India and Brazil, he said.