Calbee to Launch New Asia-Oceania Strategic Brand POP LAYERS in Thailand

• Leveraging product and production expertise developed in Indonesia

TOKYO, Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Calbee, Inc. ("Calbee") announced today the launch of POP LAYERS in Thailand, beginning in October 2026. POP LAYERS is a new multilayer corn snack developed as a strategic brand for Calbee's Asia and Oceania Region. The initial lineup features Salt, Cheese, and BBQ flavors.

Thailand was selected as the brand's first market due to the steady growth of its savory snack category, with fabricated snacks gaining in popularity. Designed primarily for younger consumers interested in new products and trends, POP LAYERS offers a distinctive snacking experience through its multilayer structure.

The new products will initially be available at 7-Eleven stores nationwide. BBQ will be sold exclusively at 7-Eleven, while Salt and Cheese will expand sequentially to additional retail channels approximately one month after launch.

The launch supports the Calbee Group's growth strategy, "Accelerate the Future," under which its overseas business is positioned as a key driver of growth through 2035. In the Asia and Oceania Region, the Group is leveraging products, technologies, and production infrastructure developed across its markets to create new opportunities. Going forward, Calbee plans to expand POP LAYERS across the region and broaden consumer reach.

POP LAYERS builds on the product development and production expertise behind GuriBee, a multilayer corn snack sold in Indonesia. GuriBee is manufactured by PT. Calbee-Wings Food, Calbee's joint venture with the Wings Group in Indonesia since 2021. Its light, crispy texture and distinctive multilayer crunch have resonated with consumers, driving demand. PT. Calbee-Wings Food has since expanded its GuriBee production capacity, enabling broader distribution in Indonesia and overseas. Drawing on the product expertise and market insights gained through GuriBee, Calbee developed POP LAYERS for the broader Asia and Oceania Region.

"Calbee has traditionally expanded its global business by bringing well-loved brands from Japan to overseas markets." said Teiichiro Morioka, Managing Executive Officer, President of Asia and Oceania Region. "POP LAYERS is a new brand originating in Indonesia developed to reach more consumers around the world. Beginning with Thailand, we aim to drive further growth overseas and strengthen our global business foundation."

About the Calbee Group

Since 1949, Calbee has embraced its corporate philosophy of harnessing nature's gifts to create products that bring great taste and enjoyment while contributing to healthier lifestyles. Guided by this enduring philosophy, we work to help address social challenges through our business activities. In doing so, we continue to take on new challenges as we look toward our next 100 years and beyond.

Under our 2035 growth strategy, Accelerate the Future, Calbee is today expanding snacking and light-meal occasions beyond traditional ways of eating and into new markets around the world. As we continue our evolution from a Japanese snack food maker into a global snacking company, we aim to bring the joy of food to people around the world and deliver new value.

For more information, visit: https://www.calbee.co.jp/en/

** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **

Calbee to Launch New Asia-Oceania Strategic Brand POP LAYERS in Thailand

Botanical oral-care product bridges 1974 Oregon State University discovery of 'oregonin' with 27 years of natural-product research by South Korean scientists.

SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Oregonin Inc. today announced that it has completed U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) registration for OLTIS DENTAL-X, paving the way for its official commercial entry into the North American oral-care market.

The product's authorization follows 27 years of research led by Professor Sun Eun Choi at Kangwon National University in South Korea, a specialist in pharmacognosy and natural products and recipient of Korea's Dongtap Order of Industrial Service Merit. Professor Choi's research team validated the biological efficacy and chemical profile of oregonin extracted from native Korean alder (Alnus japonica), securing Korean National New Excellent Technology (NET) Certification and regulatory clearance from South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS).

The scientific history of the active compound traces directly back to the Pacific Northwest. In 1974, researchers at Oregon State University studying Red Alder (Alnus rubra) isolated a previously unknown polyphenolic diarylheptanoid xyloside and named it "oregonin" in honor of the state. Red Alder bark, roots, and leaves have a long history of traditional hygiene and medicinal use among indigenous and local communities in the Pacific Northwest, with modern phytochemical research confirming diarylheptanoids like oregonin as primary bioactive constituents.

Professor Choi's comparative research demonstrated that oregonin derived from Korean alder is chemically identical to the compound originally characterized in American Red Alder and exhibits identical biological activities. This botanical connection bridges American natural science history with advanced Korean forest-bio manufacturing.

"Oregonin creates a fascinating scientific bridge between Korea and the United States," said Professor Choi. "The compound was first characterized from America's Red Alder by researchers at Oregon State University. Decades later, our team translated this characteristic Alnus compound into an FDA-registered oral-care innovation. In that sense, this product has had an authentic connection to America from its inception."

Following its FDA registration, Dr. Oregonin Inc. is currently actively pursuing retail and distribution partnerships across major U.S. commercial channels to introduce OLTIS DENTAL-X to North American consumers.

About Dr. Oregonin Inc.

Dr. Oregonin Inc. is a South Korean forest-bio research and manufacturing company specializing in natural product development, pharmacognosy, and oral-care technology derived from sustainable forest resources.

** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **

Dr. Oregonin Completes U.S. FDA Registration for OLTIS DENTAL-X, Unveiling Oral-Care Innovation Rooted in Trans-Pacific Alder Research