SNACKS WITH THE BEST NATURAL INGREDIENTS
HARVEST THE POWER OF NATURE
THE NATURE
Dedicated
to providing North America with delicious snacks containing the best and most natural ingredients since 1966, Calbee America emerges today as one of the nation’s largest snack brands
Writer: Lily Sawyer | Project Manager: Ben Weaver
With a long-standing history of excellence, Calbee America is proud to be a major part of the global Calbee brand.
Initially founded in Japan in 1949, Calbee quickly grew to become the country’s largest snack food company.
Soon after, in 1966, the brand was launched in North America as one of the region’s very first Asian snack companies, with Calbee America first appearing in Hawaii before quickly gaining popularity nationwide.
1970 saw Calbee America introduce Shrimp Chips to US audiences, which is now widely enjoyed in the country due to its savory, umami flavor.
Further to this, Calbee America’s flagship brand, Harvest Snaps, is currently enjoyed in 14 million households and counting across the US and Canada. Made from natural, plant-based ingredients, Harvest Snaps truly encapsulates the company’s mission to harvest the power of nature and offer consumers a guilt-free, healthy snack option.
As it continues to grow across the US, Calbee America is determined to maintain its strong grasp on both the North American and Asian snacking markets.
EVOLVING PALATES
Citing subtle changes in the nation’s palate to a broader range of Asian flavor profiles, Calbee America has introduced a growing selection of Asian-inspired snack products to the US over the years, including Shrimp Chips, JagaRico, Takoyaki Ball, My Pote, and Jagabee.
More recently, the brand has
expanded the distribution of its Asian snacks into mainstream US grocery and convenience stores. This aligns with a general rise in demand for Asian flavors, which can be observed in the recent widespread uptake of food items from the region such as sushi and ramen.
As such, Calbee America is able to offer these products across Asian supermarkets in North America, such as HMart and Mitsuwa Marketplace, alongside major US stores such as Costco and Walmart.
The widespread availability of these snacks in the US is also in response to an increase in the country’s Asian population seeking brands that they recognize from their childhood. In this way, Calbee America has capitalized on a growing market.
At the same time, the company has noted a prominent rise in the nation’s healthy snack category of late, a movement that its flagship brand, Harvest Snaps, is ideally placed to cater for across the US as a nutritious fruit and vegetable-dense option.
Alongside its broad range of Asian snack options, Calbee America therefore arguably monopolizes today’s US snack market and continues to benefit from a robust business model that capitalizes on emerging trends.
STREAMLINING US DISTRIBUTION
To effectively distribute its vast range of snack products across North America, especially those manufactured overseas, Calbee America operates through a highly efficient logistics and supply chain network.
Specialty Oils Are Our Specialty
Could you introduce me to Ciuti International and provide an overview of its value-added competencies, products, certifications, and location?
Ciuti International stands as the premier specialty cooking oil importer and bottler, forging strong partnerships with farmers and producers globally to deliver exceptional, authentic, and competitively priced products directly from the source.
Nestled in the foothills just outside Los Angeles, our manufacturing plant is certificated:
• USDA Organic
• Non-GMO Project Verified
• Orthodox Union Kosher
• SQF Level 2 certified
The above specialty or conventional oils and vinegar are then distributed from our facility through four divisions:
• Retail
• Foodservice
• Bulk Ingredient
• Private Label
That’s fantastic – I’m curious how Ciuti got started; what’s your superhero origin story?! And where are you now?
Going back in time - our story begins with the family-owned company’s roots in Sicily, Italy, where extra virgin olive oil is a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet.
Ciuti was founded to share our heritage by bringing authentic Italian extra virgin olive oil to the United States. Inspired by the success of our olive oil and driven by loyal customers’ demand for more of these genuine products, we have expanded from a single ingredient to the diverse offerings we have today.
In the company’s second generation, through Ciuti’s ongoing commitment to quality, authenticity, and exceptional customer value, we grew our range to provide a comprehensive assortment of specialty oils and pack sizes by building on years of experience and strong global partnerships.
Now, to the present day, Ciuti has expanded to its +100k square foot (+9300 sq mt) state of the art, rail- served facility strategically situated just outside the Seaports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, within the US’s largest distribution hub at Rancho Cucamonga, California. This prime location enables Ciuti to efficiently serve the nation and export packed-in the USA products internationally. Whether under our brands or custom private label, Ciuti is dedicated to our customers’ success.
Does Ciuti International offer any specialty products, varieties, or ingredients? Does the company use any innovative processes to acquire unique flavors?
‘Specialty Oils Are Our Specialty’ is our motto, and we mean it:
• Avocado Oil – High in mono-unsaturated fats (the good fats) with a neutral flavor profile and high smoke
point has made Avocado Oil the fastest growing oil in the industry. As one of the largest importers of Avocado Oil in the USA and one of the first in the industry to offer Avocado Oil as a staple ingredient. Our Avocado oil is expeller pressed, naturally refined and can be used for frying, as a base in a marinade or drizzling over a salad.
• California Organic EVOO – Produced from olives that are 100% grown in California, harvested and pressed the same day to ensure maximum quality and freshness; Ciuti California Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil hails from the famed Napa Valley region and is bottled at Ciuti’s southern California factory to ensure sustainability and traceability from farm to factory.
• Award-winning infused oils – Our Lemon infused Avocado Oil recently won an award with the Specialty Food Association. We offer a diverse line of infused oils, Garlic, Basil, Lemon, Chili Pepper, along with any of our base oils and we can do custom flavorings as well.
Following that, could you talk about the company’s capabilities?
Ciuti International has listened to our customers’ needs over the years and that is what has allowed us to build a diverse range of capabilities. We can provide all our products in any of our pack sizes, from small 250ml glass retail products to gallon and JIBS for Foodservice, all the way to totes and tankers for our customers’ Bulk/Industrial needs. We can help our customers build their own private label line without committing to truckloads and provide a unique offering of products. Being a domestic supplier allows us to have stricter quality controls, shorter lead times, and flexibility with packaging and offerings. Packaging options include:
• Glass Bottles/Jars
• PET Bottles/Jars
• HDPE Jugs
• Tin Cans
• Jug-In-Box
• Drums
• Totes
• Road Tankers
Six fully automated lines accommodate orders of all sizes, from single pallets to full truckloads 250 ML bottles, to 275 GL Totes, ensuring we can scale to meet any requirement. Our facility holds 4,000,000lbs, over 1800MT, of storage capacity to provide a reliable supply of readily available inventory.
What would you say differentiates Ciuti International from the competition?
Versatility – Ciuti offers truckload quantities at pallet minimums, allowing customers to fill their trucks with tremendous variety of specialty oils. Only Ciuti’s singular niche combines fast, reliable, US-packed products with strict quality standards.
Variety – available in organic, non-gmo, kosher, or conventional grades/origins of:
- Avocado Oil
- Canola Oil
- Coconut Oils
o Organic Extra Virgin
o Organic Refined
- Corn Oil
- Grapeseed Oil
- Olive Oils
o Extra Virgin
o Pure
o Pomace
- Nut Oils
o Almond
o Hazelnut
o Pistachio
o Walnut
- Rice Bran Oil
- Sesame Oil, Toasted
- Soybean Oil
- Sunflower Oils
o Organic High Oleic
o High Oleic
o Mid Oleic
o Regular Sunflower
o Linoleic
- Blended Oils
o Custom Blends
- Flavor Infused Oils
Availability – An abundance of storage capacity and a variety of product offerings allows us to react to our customers’ needs. We provide short lead times measured in days, not weeks or months; can combine a variety of pack sizes and oils helping eliminate warehousing needs for our customers, avoiding long lead times from overseas and ensuring dependability as a supplier. We ship less than truckload, truckload, tankers, and flexitanks, so we can help scale to meet any customer’s needs.
You’ve talked about the retail, food service and bulk ingredient divisions - could you tell us more about the company’s Private/White Label division?
We understand the trust instilled in Ciuti when our Private/ White Label partners ask us to procure the premium sourced oils we pour into their products, meticulously pack them at our SQF-certified facility, and finally brand them with their company’s mark.
• Our commitment to quality ensures these products are available across our entire range, consistently better than or matching the quality of National Brand Equivalents, and always with bulletproof, on-time reliability for in-full short domestic fulfillment lead times to beat deadlines.
• One-stop-shop freedom to choose from a diverse selection of oils, bottles, and sizes, allowing packaging customization from start to finish. Whether you prefer glass bottles, PET bottles, HDPE jugs, tin cans, or another format - we provide flexibility to meet specific needs.
• Our full-time in-house graphic designer is available to assist in creating a distinctive label or developing a complete branded specialty oils line. This personalized service ensures your products pop on the shelves and resonate with your target audience.
• From concept to shelf in a few weeks. That’s the promise.
At Ciuti, we are dedicated to turning vision into reality, so we’ve streamlined the entire white-label process within weeks. Our goal is to provide exceptional service value and premium-quality products that enhance your brand’s reputation and build market presence.
ABOUT CIUTI INTERNATIONAL
Ciuti International has grown into a premier supplier of specialty oils by developing our customer base through trust, quality and service. We’ve developed an array of offerings and pack sizes aiming to be a one-stop shop for all our customers’ needs. Our ability to source in bulk direct from producers and farmers allows us to offer consistent quality, traceability from farm to table and competitively priced products. Servicing all three market segments, retail/foodservice/bulk ingredients, offering private label and branded items in a variety of pack sizes has set us apart from our competitors – contact Ciuti and let us help you with your specialty oil needs.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA USA
+1-909-484-1414
sales@ciuti.com www.ciuti.com
In January 2023, having faced considerable challenges such as supply chain shortages during the COVID19 pandemic, the company made the executive decision to introduce in-house inventories for its Asian products at two of its US warehouses.
Prior to this, many of Calbee America’s Asian snacks came from overseas and were supplied to supermarkets across the US by a single national distributor.
As this was no longer logistically viable due to the company’s expansion, Calbee America elected an external distributor to supply the nation’s Asian supermarkets, whilst the company itself handled shipping to domestic stores.
As such, Calbee America benefits from optimal operational and logistical efficiencies. One point of contact
CALBEE AMERICA BRANDS
HARVEST SNAPS – A crunchy snack made with real ingredients. Available in over 14 flavors and varieties, including:
• Snack Crisps
• Crunchy Loops
• Crunchy Puffs
JAGARICO – Pairing hearty potatoes with fresh flavors. Available in:
• Original
• Double Cheese
• Hokkaido Butter
• Umami Seaweed
• Sukiyaki
MY POTE – A gluten-free snack made with US-grown potatoes. Available in:
• Garlic Herb Butter
• Himalayan Pink Salt
• Onion Soup
• White Truffle
ONION RINGS – Crispy, crunchy onion flavor snacks, always baked and never fried.
presides over the distribution of the company’s Asian snack products, and another over its domestic brands, meaning one salesperson manages each account and a dedicated distribution arm supplies each store.
By streamlining its supply chain and logistics, Calbee America has been able to remain at the top of its game as it continues to expand.
FRUGRA – A healthy granola snack combining grains and seeds with sweet, dried fruit. Available in:
• Original
• Reduced Sugar
SHRIMP CHIPS – A healthier take on the classic Asian snack. Available in:
• Original
• Hot Garlic
• Wasabi
• Yuzu and Black Pepper
• Siracha Mayo
POTATO CHIPS – Crinkle-cut chips full of mouthwatering flavors, such as:
• Seaweed and Salt
• Hot and Spicy
• Honey Butter
• Pizza
TAKOYAKI BALL – Grilled octopus flavor puffs reminiscent of Japanese street food.
JAGABEE – Wholesome, natural-cut potato chips resembling French fries. Available in:
• Lightly Salted
• Ketchup
CONTINUOUS PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Innovation and product development play a big part in defining Calbee as a competitive global brand.
Founder Takashi Matsuo was deeply passionate about R&D, which today forms an integral part of the company’s corporate DNA.
In this way, a dedicated R&D team in Japan is focused on continuous product development such as the ongoing evolution of JagaRico to include new flavors, sizes, and packaging options throughout the years.
In addition, the brand’s acute awareness of varying international market preferences enables it to cater to different tastes across the numerous destinations it serves.
For example, research indicates that US consumers generally seek spicier, heavily seasoned snack products, whilst the Japanese market tends to prefer more subtle flavors.
By understanding such minute market preferences, Calbee has been able to uniquely tailor its products for different international audiences, ensuring it continues to remain a firstchoice snack brand for all.
An awareness of the rising demand for brand transparency has also led to Calbee America rebranding its Harvest Snaps Selects to Harvest Snaps Crunchy Puffs to better represent the line’s identity as a plantbased snack.
At the same time, the company has recently released a line of freeze-dried
CONNECTING YOU TO GLOBAL MARKETS
At XPT Grain we leverage our comprehensive global market knowledge and production expertise to create the most advantageous grain marketing opportunities for you.
Through our established and highly valued relationships, XPT has successfully opened and expanded new markets for Western Canadian grown organic and conventional grains.
Our company takes pride in its proactive approach and responsiveness in addressing the often diverse and unique needs of our producers and buyers. Quality and traceability measures begin in the fields and are strictly upheld through to the customer.
Our commitment extends beyond transactions, as we strive to be a trusted partner in this business. By offering personalized service and tailored solutions, we navigate the complexities of the market to maximize value for our customers.
From the initial discussions to the final delivery, XPT Grain is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of service and product excellence.
fruit, such as sliced apples, strawberries, grapes, and bananas, to align with growing demand amongst parents in the US for healthier snacks for their children.
A BRIGHT FUTURE
As it continues to grow, Calbee America anticipates great things on the horizon, especially given the impact social media and globalization have had on the Calbee brand.
In the 2023 Japanese fiscal year alone, the Harvest Snaps family increased its social media following by 12 percent, whilst the overall Calbee brand grew by a staggering 207 percent.
Calbee America’s strategy for future growth includes continuing to develop its domestic healthy snack brands and products, such as Harvest Snaps, whilst maintaining its strong grasp on the US Asian snack market by introducing novel flavors and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
CALBEE AMERICA –A BRIEF HISTORY
1949 – Founded in Japan, Calbee was first known as Matsuo Food Processing Co., Ltd.
1955 – The company name was changed to Calbee Confectionery.
1966 – Calbee Confectionery began exporting overseas to Southeast Asia and Hawaii.
1967 – Calbee Confectionery started exporting Shrimp Chips to North America.
1970 – The brand established a North American subsidiary focusing on
From its national production facilities in California and Mississippi, the company plans to continue to launch new products, flavors, and co-manufacturing facilities across the US.
the region’s snack market, where it established its first overseas base.
1973 – As its headquarters relocated to Tokyo, Calbee Confectionery was rebranded simply as Calbee as it sought to develop a worldwide market.
2012 – Calbee North America was established across sites in Oregon, Mississippi, and California.
2019 – Calbee North America acquired Warnock Food Products.
2023 – Calbee North America and Warnock Food products merge to become Calbee America as we know it today.
Thus, Calbee America will continue to capitalize on its burgeoning success as a recognized brand as well as its US customers’ thirst for new and unique snacks.
SNACKS WITH THE BEST NATURAL INGREDIENTS