Japanese food manufacturer Kagome has announced changes to its ketchup packaging following a shortage of raw materials used in white printing ink production. The company’s iconic tomato ketchup bottles will now feature a simplified design with a transparent lower section to reduce ink usage.
The packaging adjustment comes amid ongoing supply chain disruptions affecting petroleum-derived materials such as naphtha, a key ingredient used in printing inks and packaging production. Rising geopolitical tensions and instability in Middle Eastern supply routes have intensified shortages across Japan’s packaging and printing industries.
Kagome stated that the redesign is part of its effort to maintain stable product supply while optimizing material usage during the current shortage. The company emphasized that the change only affects the packaging appearance and does not impact product quality or quantity.
The development reflects a growing trend among Japanese FMCG brands adapting packaging formats to cope with raw material shortages and rising production costs. Earlier this week, snack manufacturer Calbee also announced temporary monochrome packaging for several products to conserve ink resources.