Processed foods hardest hit by Japan’s price hikes amid Middle East conflict
Japan’s food price hikes are expected to intensify in 2026, with processed foods seeing the biggest increases as the “Middle East situation” adds pressure.
Data from Teikoku Databank’s July 2026 survey revealed that price hikes were observed for 5,780 processed foods – which include instant noodles, canned goods, and frozen foods.
Researchers forecast that food price increases would continue through the remainder of the year due to the “worsening situation in the Middle East”, which caused price increases to crude oil and naphtha.
OSK launches caffeine-free teas as it eyes US and Middle East
OSK, the flagship tea brand of Odani Kokufun, is expanding its product portfolio to tap rising demand for health-focused and caffeine-free beverages as it seeks to strengthen its global footprint.
The firm cited increasing demand for caffeine-free teas due to health considerations among certain consumer groups, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as consumers seeking to limit caffeine intake to avoid effects such as sleep disruption.
Its latest corn and black soybean tea launches are designed to address these needs while leveraging global interest in Japanese flavours.
Thai Union rides protein and whole-food waves with MONORI snacks
Seafood giant Thai Union’s MONORI snacks feature traditional Japanese seasoning profiles and uses Japanese-inspired frying and baking methods.
The MONORI snack range also taps megatrends such as protein, whole foods and convenience.
Its key snack brand currently is MONORI, a brand initially established under the company’s widespread sustainability programme as a way to utilise seafood waste from other operations.
5 food trends driven by lifestyle shifts around the world
Japanese products are a part of this megatrends piece, which explores the five food trends driven by lifestyle needs around the world.
Japan’s Hananomi LLC, for example, retails amazake jelly stick – a traditional fermented rice drink reformatted into a convenient jelly stick – for busy consumers that do not have regular eating habits.
Meanwhile, Sankyo Foods markets GABA sprouted rice that supports mental health, and Heritage firm Japan GreenTea has long targeted the US market with its authentic brews and an endearing story of how its Sakura tea bloomed in space during a NASA mission.
Why the smartest food marketing begins when everything goes wrong
From stolen chocolate to monochrome packaging, some of the food industry’s most effective marketing campaigns have grown out of operational problems rather than creative briefs.
As tensions in the Middle East disrupted petrochemical supply chains, Calbee found itself facing an unexpected packaging challenge.
Uncertainty surrounding the supply of printing materials forced the producer to simplify the packaging on several snack products, replacing its familiar colourful designs with monochrome versions to conserve resources while maintaining production.