Shin Ehara, President and CEO, Calbee, Inc.

We want to deliver delicious products that will bring joy to customers all over the world.

Makoto Ehara, President and CEO, Calbee, Inc.

■ Profile
Born in Saitama Prefecture in 1958. After graduating from Keio University's Faculty of Economics in 1981, he joined Itochu Corporation. In 2001, he joined Johnson & Johnson. In 2011, he joined Calbee, and after serving as President and Representative Director of the group company Japan Frito-Lay and Vice President of Calbee, he was appointed President and Representative Director and CEO in April 2023.

After working for trading companies and foreign-owned manufacturing companies, President Ehara now leads Calbee. Calbee is synonymous with potato chips and is the No. 1 snack food company. We interviewed the president of this company, which is committed to quality and continues to create unique products, about his thoughts on manufacturing, contributions to society through food education activities, and future prospects.

During my university days, I belonged to an exploration club. Of all the places we visited, the Ogasawara Islands left the biggest impression on me. At the time, it had only been about 10 years since the islands were returned from the United States, and there were virtually no tourists. So, with the aim of boosting tourism, I started creating a guidebook myself. I interviewed local people, went around to shops one by one to get advertising fees and negotiate for inclusion, and eventually published it as a book. You might still be able to find that book if you go to a used bookstore in Kanda (laughs).
My job search began when I was a third-year university student and I was inspired by the protagonist working at a trading company in an NHK drama. I decided to join a trading company and worked there for about 20 years, but gradually I began to feel dissatisfied. I wanted to be involved in manufacturing with my own hands, so I changed jobs to a foreign-owned manufacturing company and built my career there for about 10 years.
Around that time, the chairman of Calbee at the time asked me if I would like to join their company. My desire to be involved in manufacturing and my love of food led me to decide to join Calbee.

■A commitment to craftsmanship leads to becoming No. 1

As you know, Calbee is a snack and cereal company that produces products such as "Jagarico" and potato chips, as well as "Frugra." Thanks to our customers, we hold the number one market share in Japan for all of these products and enjoy the support of many customers.
The reason lies in their strong commitment to craftsmanship. They pay meticulous attention to even the smallest details that customers might not even notice. For example, when it comes to the color of potato chips, they strive to minimize burning and pursue the perfect crisp texture without compromise.
Furthermore, the Calbee Group has contracts with producers and provides direct support for potato cultivation. While other companies typically buy potatoes from agricultural cooperatives or markets, we contract with producers and essentially purchase all of their harvested potatoes. As a result, we have very strong ties with producers and consult with them on things like when to apply fertilizer and when to harvest. I believe that having this kind of vertical, end-to-end system, from upstream to downstream, is one of the strengths of the Calbee Group.
Furthermore, a major strength of our company is that we handle even variety improvement within our own group. We have a uniquely developed potato variety called "Poroshiri" that is resistant to pests. We have always conducted our business with sustainability in mind. In order to stably supply potato chips and "Jagarico" for a long time, we are thoroughly committed to creating sustainable systems, even if it increases costs. We are proud to say that there are not many companies that are so committed to this.
Furthermore, we believe that food education is extremely important. Because our products are snack foods, there are sometimes concerns about their nutritional balance. In order for people to enjoy our products in a healthy way, it is important to be mindful of the amount and timing of consumption. Therefore, for over 20 years, we have been focusing on food education activities to teach these proper eating habits to elementary school students and others.

■ Not content with the status quo, we will challenge the global market.

I want to work with bright and positive people. I want our employees to not be afraid of trial and error and to keep challenging themselves.
Furthermore, if you are someone who is grateful to those around you, your work will surely go well. Work is never something that can be accomplished alone.
You can only fulfill your role when you are supported by those around you; you can't do truly good work if you're working alone. Those who are considerate and grateful to others are the ones who receive help from those around them, and as a result, can lead the entire team to success. Teamwork is truly essential.
Calbee is celebrating its 77th anniversary this year, but to continue growing beyond 100 years, the domestic market alone is not enough. We aspire to always be a part of the smiles of many people around the world. To achieve this, it is essential that we do not rest on our laurels but continuously create new products that will delight our customers. That is why we want the younger generation to actively take on challenges and create new value.
Within the company, we hold a new idea proposal system called "Innovation & Beyond Festa," where we solicit free-thinking ideas, and we have a system in place where the company provides support to selected projects. We believe that in order to excite our customers, it is most important that we first create a culture in which we ourselves continue to challenge ourselves.

■Message

Never forget that everything you do is supported by those around you. Be grateful for everything. And I hope you will continue to take on challenges with a positive attitude.

Student Newspaper, April 2026 Issue: Ayatsuki Sakakura, 3rd year student, Tokyo Metropolitan University

Momofuku Kano (1st year, Kaetsu Ariake Junior High School) / Yurie Watanabe (2nd year, Josai International University) / Ayatsuki Sakakura (3rd year, Tokyo Metropolitan University) / Rurika Abe (2nd year, Showa Women's University) / Kotomi Miyama (3rd year, Dokkyo University) / Hinano Shinoda (2nd year, Tokyo Kasei University)