Potato News from Japan

Friday’s massive earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan had minimal impact on Calbee Inc., the Japanese snack food manufacturer and its American partners, including RDO-Calbee Foods of Boardman.

On February 11, 2011, the first shipment of U.S. chipping potatoes from Washington State arrived in Japan.

Japanese snack food maker Calbee Inc aims to list on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in March to raise funds to help it expand overseas, the Nikkei business daily reported on Tuesday.

For only the fourth time in its 117 year history, Ishida Co., Ltd. has a new company president – Mr. Takahide Ishida.Takahide assumes leadership of Ishida’s worldwide operations from his father, Ryuichi, who held the position for over 42 years and who,...

Although potatoes are for most people not the first food that comes to mind as a source of anti-oxidants, potatoes ARE an important source for healthful anti-oxidants and polyphenols.

A total of 1,909 metric tons of fresh US chipping potatoes were shipped to Japan under the February – June 2010 shipping window.

Where Japanese companies are trying to gain a competitive advantage, dehy fits in nicely as the economic climate changes! Fewer people are eating out in Japan, opting instead to shop in delis and supermarkets more. 

Wendy’s/Arby’s Group Inc. is ramping up international expansion plans with a proposed re-entry into the Japanese market, the company said Wednesday.The proposed restaurants are to be co-branded Wendy’s/Arby’s locations and feature menus offering signat...

Paid publicity highlighting the benefits of incorporating US dehy in bakery applications resulted in a Japanese bakery, Boulangerie Labo DAMES de FRANCE, developing and launching two new products. “Margherita” and “Tuna Wrap” both utilize approximately...

Zensho Co. Ltd., the sole franchisee for Wendy's in Japan, announced on Thursday that it will end its contract with Wendy's/Arby's Group Inc. on its use of the Wendy's trademark in Japan on Dec. 31. Zensho operates 71 Wendy's units in the country, havi...

The Queensland [Australia] Japan Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc (QJCCI) announced Heat and Control as winner of the Large Manufacturer category of the 2009 QJCCI Export Excellence Awards.

Calbee Japan recently launched a purple version of their popular Jagabee potato snack. The Jagabee snacks are a formed potato stick sold in a cup and designed to fit a car cup holder. With the dough for the snacks being made from US potatoes at a joint...

The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) wants to cut food imports that make up more than half of Japan's total supply, helping local farmers at the expense of growers in the U.S., under a ¥1 trillion policy. Japan, which gets about 60 percent of its wheat ...

Pepsico Inc. is acquiring a stake in Calbee Foods Co., Japan’s biggest producer of potato chips and shrimp crackers, as part of a push to sell more snacks overseas.PepsiCo, the world’s biggest snack-food maker, said in a statement it will exchange its ...

Adding low concentrations of vinegar to foods may enhance perception of saltiness and enable food manufacturers to cut salt content without affecting taste, according to new research from Japan. The World Health Organization recommends that per capita ...

Zopf, a Japanese bakery which operates a retail bakery outlet, conducts internet bakery sales and supplies restaurants, recently launched a hamburger bun made with 25% US dehydrated standard potato flakes. The restaurant, “R-S”, along with others, is p...

Frito-Lay Japan has decided that "Coffee Crisp" should be more than just a pretty name. Their new Caramel Macchiatto and Green Tea Latte flavor corn chips pack two cups of coffee's worth of caffeine into each bag.The so-called "caffeine ...

McDonald's says it likely will become the first restaurant chain in Japanese history to surpass a half-trillion yen, or $5.6 billion, in yearly sales. Officials of McDonald's Holdings Co. Japan says sales are likely to top 500 billion yen in the 2008 b...