Calbee coy on Australia entry plans

Japanese snack maker Calbee has suggested it is eyeing an entry into Australia.

In an interview with Reuters, the Yushoi snack maker’s CEO, Akira Matsumoto, said it could enter Australia as early as this year as part of plans to triple sales from its overseas operations.

When asked to confirm the comments, a spokesperson for Calbee said “the plan is not confirmed yet” but added Australia was an attractive market because the “market is mature” and because of “two big accounts in the market – Woolworths and Coles”.

In addition, Matsumoto reportedly said the firm was mulling its re-entry into China after scrapping a loss-making joint venture with Tingyi Holding and Itochu Corp. It would do this by setting up its own operation or teaming up with another partner. 

The firm’s spokesperson again told just-food the plan was “not confirmed yet”.

Last summer, Calbee announced the launch of Yushoi Snapea Rice Sticks in the UK, its first product to be made under its UK-based European arm.