News on Chips and Snacks from Asia

PepsiCo India inaugurated a USD 81.5 million potato chips plant in Assam that will source potatoes locally, support thousands of farmers and increase annual potato requirements from 30,000 MT to 70,000 MT by 2030.

Calbee Potato expects Hokkaido’s 2026 processing potato crop to reach 240,000–250,000 tons, with better quality and yields than 2025. Favorable temperatures and rainfall have boosted growth, although heavy rain remains a major harvest risk now.

KFC Malaysia and Mister Potato launch a limited-time collaboration featuring spicy crispy chicken, a crunchy Zinger burger and Cheezy Wedges-inspired chips for the Merdeka and Malaysia Day season.

PepsiCo has announced new snack launches across India and Bangladesh, including Kurkure Aloo Chips, Kurkure Ribbon Pakoda, Lay's Potato Crackers and Quaker protein snacks, combining regional flavours, new textures and nutrition needs.

Orion recorded KRW 874 billion (USD 672.31 million) in global potato snack sales, with overseas markets contributing 73%, as it expands production in South Korea and China and strengthens Pocachip, Oh! Gamja, Swingchip and Yegam globally.

Emami Agrotech enters India’s snacking market with WeMe, launching potato chips and other snacks. The company plans to invest INR 7.5 billion (USD 78.3 million) and targets INR 10 billion (USD 104.4 million) in revenue within 5–7 years.

The 27th China Potato Congress in Hebei unites global potato leaders. Sensitar showcases intelligent processing solutions, boosting efficiency, sustainability and high-value growth across the potato industry.

Siddhivinayak Agri Processing (SV AGRI) has launched its Starch Recovery Unit (SRU) for potato processors. The system recovers valuable potato starch removes up to 95% TSS reduces ETP load and lowers fresh water consumption by 30% to 40%.

The Kurdistan Region of Iraq hosted the Potato Field Day event, organized by Beirut Erbil Company and Nahar Al-Awraad Company. The event highlighted sustainable potato cultivation, seed potato innovation, potato processing and food security.

Orion will use freshly harvested domestic potatoes from key growing regions across South Korea to produce Pocachip and Swingchip. The company plans to process around 15K tons of potatoes this year and expand Pocachip production capacity by up to 50%.

Goodrich Cereals says the future of potato processing will be shaped by reliable sourcing, consistent quality, supply security, and specialized products. The company serves nearly 50 countries with potato ingredients and packaging options.

Hungritos participated in Seoul Food & Hotel 2026 in South Korea, where it debuted its Waffle Fries made from Dutch potatoes. The event enabled the company to engage with buyers, importers and foodservice professionals from international markets.

PepsiCo plans to invest up to Rs 5,700 crore (USD 665 million) in India by 2030, mainly to expand the manufacturing capacity of its foods business. The investment will focus primarily on three manufacturing facilities located in Madhya Pradesh, Assam and Tamil Nadu.

Japanese snack manufacturer Calbee will temporarily switch selected potato chip packaging to grayscale due to supply chain disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East.

Bikaji Foods International has announced that its founder, Chairman and Whole-Time Director Shiv Ratan Agarwal passed away on April 23, 2026, according to a regulatory filing submitted to stock exchanges.

Americana Foods opened a new office in Jeddah, expanding in Saudi Arabia at a time it boosts its potato processing capacity through a joint investment with Farm Frites in a frozen French fries plant in Riyadh.

Japanese snack maker Yamayoshi Seika has suspended production of several potato chip products due to difficulties in securing fuel, impacting the availability of its well-known Wasabeef chips.

Lay's®, the potato chip brand from PepsiCo, has launched a refreshed brand identity in India as part of the company's largest global brand refresh in nearly 100 years.