TAIWAN: Calbee, Wei Chuan to set up joint venture

Japanese snacks group Calbee is to set up a joint venture in Taipei with local food concern Wei Chuan, a subsidiary of Tingyi International.

Taipei Calbee is expected to start operations in December, and will manufacture snacks for sale in Taiwan, starting with Calbee’s Jagabee potato chips.

“Later we will add more products based on the market feedback,” a Calbee spokesperson said.

In April, Calbee set up a joint venture in Tianjin, China with Tingyi’s Chinese operation Master Kong Instant Foods Investment and Japanese trading company Itochu.

This joint venture will start manufacturing wheat-based snacks such as shrimp chips in December, and later potato chips, also including the Jagabee brand. Tianjin Calbee will supply the mainland Chinese market only.

“Instead of exporting, we want to be a local company providing the best products favored by local consumers,” said the Calbee spokesperson. “We will choose the best local partners and talent to manage each part of the local supply chain.”

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