News on Chips and Snacks from Asia

Farmers' rights activists on Tuesday planted FL-2027 seed potatoes on a plot of farmland in Ahmedabad, Gujarat to protest food and beverages major PepsiCo's reassertion of rights over the variety.

Japanese snack company Calbee is gearing up for a US marketing campaign for its best-selling Jagarico potato snack in an aggressive drive to increase overseas sales.

Major Japanese snack-maker Calbee Inc. said Thursday that it will extend the 'best before' date for its potato chip products by two months.

After discussions with the government, the Pepsico India has agreed to withdraw the cases against the potato farmers. In April Pepsico sued four farmers for cultivating a potato variety - FC5 - grown exclusively for its popular Lay's potato chips.

The legal battle between a number of potato farmers in Gujarat accused of illegally growing a proprietary variety and food and beverage manufacturer PepsiCo India may be headed for an out-of-court settlement.

Leading farmers unions and rights advocacy groups have demanded that the PepsiCo immediately withdraw all legal suits it has slapped on many potato farmers in different districts of Gujarat.

PepsiCo has sued three potato farmers in Gujarat complaining that they have been illegally growing and selling a variety of potato exclusively registered to Pepsico for the use of producing its Lays potato chips.

Just days after their launch, Japanese potato chip manufacturer Calbee recalled all bags of their new microwaveable potato chips, Renji de Poterich, over concerns that they may catch fire.

Kellogg's, the world's second-largest snack foods company, is exploring options to acquire a stake in India's snack manufacturer Haldiram's. This could be one of the biggest deals involving an Indian consumer brand.

Poor supply of potato in Madhya Pradesh in spot market and higher prices have escalated cost of production of chips manufacturers by over 10 per cent. The rise is likely to make packaged chips more expensive.

Japanese snack food manufacturer KOIKE-YA has created one-of-a-kind packaging that lets you suck up potato chips without touching one.

PepsiCo plans to invest US$1 billion in Pakistan over the next five years, the PepsiCo Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Asia, Middle East and North Africa (AMENA) Mike Spanos told Prime Minister Imran Khan in a meeting held in Islamabad late last month.

Ever wished you could get a little less flavor on your chip? Wish no more; now you can experience them (in Japan!) as nature intended, lightly fried in oil.

One of the snack factories of Agro Tech Foods limited, a subsidiary of Conagra Brands in India, was destroyed by fire Sunday.

Snacks and beverages manufacturer PepsiCo plans to invest $5 million by 2020 to expand its sustainable farming programme in India.

A new order issued in the Philip[pines allows for the import of more potatoes at a low rate (3%), exclusively for use for the production of potato chips

Pepsico's Lay's brand has recently joined the growing flurry of Durian flavoured foods in China with the introduction of Durian Flavoured potato chips.

Despite being an early bird in branded packaged snacks, PepsiCo India faces tough competition in this category. The company bets on its Kurkure brand combined with local flavors to keep up with the competition.