History

1949-1969
1970-1979
1980-1989
1990-1999
2000-2009
2010-The Present

* Note: Product names are those at the time of launch.

1949 ‐ 1969

1949Calbee Caramel: This was a popular item from Calbee's then-core candy and caramel business.
1955Kappa Arare: Calbee successfully produced arare crackers from wheat flour, and launched them under the name of Kappa Arare. The mythical character kappa, illustrated by Kon Shimizu, was adopted as the product symbol.
1964Kappa Ebisen: This epoch-making snack, developed by kneading fresh shrimp into wheat dough, became a huge hit all across Japan.

Calbee's Corporate DNA

1970 ‐ 1979

1971Kamen Rider Snack ©Ishimori Pro - Toei: In synergy with the popular Kamen Rider television series, this product triggered a boom in card collection that became a social phenomenon.
1972Sapporo Potato: Sapporo Potato was launched as Calbee's first fresh potato-based product. It was named after Sapporo, a renowned city in the potato-growing prefecture of Hokkaido.
1973Pro Baseball Chips: This product was launched to take advantage of the card collection boom triggered by Kamen Rider Snack. The memorable first card issued was of Shigeo Nagashima.
1974Sapporo Potato BBQ: The product name was written in Japanese with only the "Q" of "BBQ" (abbreviation for barbecue in USA) alphabetized so as to make the name unique and easy to remember.
1975Potato Chips Lightly Salted: Calbee got full-out into the potato business with the launch of Potato Chips Lightly Salted. Its TV commercial was extremely well-received for the phrase, "You can buy Calbee Potato Chips with a 100-yen, but you can't buy a 100-yen with Calbee Potato Chips."
1976Potato Chips Seaweed Salt: Potato Chips Seaweed Salt made its debut as the first "different flavor" item under the Potato Chips brand.
1978Potato Chips Consomme Punch: "With punch" was a buzzword in the 1970s that meant "having a lot of energy" or "having powerful momentum." Calbee named its new potato chips Consomme Punch, hoping to impress customers with this name and win their lasting patronage.
1978Cheese Bit: Cheese Bit gained nationwide popularity with its well-balanced flavor of corn and cheese. Ever since its launch, its tiny almond-like shape has been loved by a broad range of consumers.

1980 ‐ 1989

1981Osatsu Snack: Calbee created this light, crispy-textured snack by using sweet potatoes popular with all generations.
1983Louisiana: Launched as a new wave of thick-cut ridged potato chips, this was the first Calbee product to be packaged with an aluminum-metalized film.
1984Green Snack: This product was originally made from Japanese radish leaves, onions, pumpkins, green peppers and other vegetables. Today, it comes in three colors and in the shape of a heart, to encourage children to enjoy eating vegetables. It was renamed "Vegetaberu" in 2003.
1988GranolaCorn Flakes: Focusing on cereals, a popular staple among common American families, Calbee conducted extensive research in order to "develop cereals to suit the Japanese palate" and finally created Calbee's original cereals.
1989A・La・Potato: This product was launched as a special edition of potato chips made only from Hokkaido potatoes. Today, it is well-established as a regular autumn and winter item.
1989Yakimorokoshi: With corn grits (ground corn) as a prime ingredient, Calbee developed this product by using a pressure extrusion molding machine for the first time.
1989Brown Sugar: Calbee launched a sugar-sweetened version of corn flakes, which were top-selling in the Japanese cereals market in those days. Particular attention was devoted to the selection of sugar, and brown sugar was chosen for its rich flavor.

1990 ‐ 1999

1991Fruit Granola: Fruit Granola was created as a cereal product to support the health of hard-working women every day. *Note: The product name was changed to Frugra in 2011.
1992Toppin Choco: As a cereal product for getting the quick nutrition required at breakfast, this product was launched in a friendly-looking package to attract children.
1992Pizza Potato: Pizza Potato caused a sensation with Calbee's original method of melting cheese topping on freshly fried potato chips.
1992J. LEAGUE Chips: Taking the opportunity of the opening of the J. LEAGUE in May 1993, Calbee launched J. LEAGUE Chips by renaming Soccer Chips. Its package, with a design of the official mascot of the league, gained great popularity.
1993Sayaendo: This green pea snack is shaped after peas in a pod. Its symbol character, printed on the package, even appeared in TV commercials and gained much attention.
1993Kataage Potato: Kataage Potato are kettle chips cooked slowly the traditional way. The product was initially released only in the Hokkaido and Tohoku areas.
1993Natsu Potato: This product is made by using new potatoes harvested each summer. Today, it is well-established as a regular summer item from Calbee.
1993 Potato Chips Hokkaido Butter Soy SaucePotato Chips Kyushu Soy Sauce: A series of popular local specialty snack products only available in selected local areas. We now have a wide selection of local specialty snack products available in many regions of Japan.
1994Choco Puffy: This product was launched in a package with a design of the Peanuts characters children everywhere love.
1995JagaRico: Calbee's original recipe for deep-frying steamed potatoes yielded this product with a unique texture--crunchy at first and crispy afterwards. The product was also a pioneer of portable snacks packaged in a cup.
1998 Gizagiza Potato: Thickly sliced with ridged surfaces, these potato chips are extremely satisfying. The product was renamed "Potato Chips Gizagiza®" in 2010.

2000 ‐ 2009

2001Satsumarico: Applying an original method, Calbee successfully replicated the light, dry texture and deliciousness of sweet potatoes baked in hot pebbles—one of the autumnal delights in Japan—in its JagaRico. Later, new snacks – Toumorico, made from corn. and Edamarico, made from green soybeans – were launched on the market.
2003Jaga Pokkuru: This souvenir item was created by using high-quality ingredients such as carefully selected Hokkaido potatoes and Okhotsk sea salt. The product name comes from the mythical little people known as Koropokkuru in the folklore of the Ainu people.
2003Kappa Ebisen from 1 year old: With less seasoning and no oil at all, this Kappa Ebisen was created to satisfy the demand of mothers to "feed Kappa Ebisen to small children without worry".
2006Jagabee: Jagabee is a snack with an unprecedented texture, made by cutting unhusked whole potatoes. The product is also noted for its minimal use of seasoning.
2006Poterich: Poterich is a richer-tasting series of potato chips with stronger seasoning. It was launched in a simple yet elegant-looking package, with gold used as the base color.
2006Kappa Ebisen Takumi: Made from ingredients from the Seto Inland Sea, each piece is prepared with the greatest of care.

2010 ‐ The Present

2010 Vegips: We made these vegetable chips by simply slicing and frying veggies with our unique, non-battered deep-frying process.
2010Potato Chips Zeitaku Chocolate: This product – potato chips topped with chocolate – has a rich taste and presence.
2014Karabee: Karabee are potato chips with a good balance between flavor and spiciness.
2016 Potato Chips Crisp Lightly SaltedPotato Chips Crisp Consomme Punch: This is Calbee's series of molded potato chips, offering crispiness that can be enjoyed anywhere. Packaged in a cylindrical container, the product is easy to carry around.
2017miino: Packaged for personal consumption, this product comes in a reclosable pouch that allows the desired quantity to be enjoyed anytime.
2018 Potato Deluxe: The thickest ever potato chips in the history of Calbee. Super thick potato chips, about three times(*) thicker than regular potato chips.
(*) Thickness of sliced potatoes compared.
2020 Thin Potato: Calbee's thinnest potato chips, with an extra light and crispy texture. A bite-sized snack that are light and pleasant in the mouth.
2020Calbits: A delicious bite-sized Frugra. Now, Frugra can be enjoyed in one bite, any time, anywhere. The product was renamed "Frugrabits" in March 2021.