Japan's french fry shortage supersizes imports from China

With U.S. shipments disrupted, restaurants find new suppliers and rethink menus

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French fries have been scarce in Japan for more than six months. © Reuters

SHINO KATAYAMA, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- A monthslong shortage of imported U.S. french fries has driven Japanese restaurants to turn to China or even drop the item from their menus, in a case of supply chain risk taking a bite out of a consumer favorite.

Skylark Holdings, whose chains include Gusto, has gone from importing no french fries from China to sourcing 20%-30% of its supply from there at times.

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