IKEA Expands U.S. Manufacturing Amid Rising Tariffs and Supply Chain Strategy Shift 
Gold Prices Edge Higher as Markets Await Key U.S. PCE Inflation Data 
Europe Confronts Rising Competitive Pressure as China Accelerates Export-Led Growth 
Australia Moves Forward With Teen Social Media Ban as Platforms Begin Lockouts 
IKEA Launches First New Zealand Store, Marking Expansion Into Its 64th Global Market 
Michael Dell Pledges $6.25 Billion to Boost Children’s Investment Accounts Under Trump Initiative 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Markets Look to Fed Rate Cut; Rupee Steadies Near Record Lows 
Dollar Weakens Ahead of Expected Federal Reserve Rate Cut 
Spain’s Industrial Output Records Steady Growth in October Amid Revised September Figures 
European Oil & Gas Stocks Face 2026 With Cautious Outlook Amid Valuation Pressure 
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook 
EU Prepares Antitrust Probe Into Meta’s AI Integration on WhatsApp 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
Tesla Faces 19% Drop in UK Registrations as Competition Intensifies 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
Rio Tinto Raises 2025 Copper Output Outlook as Oyu Tolgoi Expansion Accelerates 
Netflix’s Bid for Warner Bros Discovery Aims to Cut Streaming Costs and Reshape the Industry 
Burger King Japan has experienced a potato shortage several times already, and there are instances when this even happened just weeks apart. Now the shortage problem is back, and the company started looking for a way to replace the beloved french fries side menu.
According to Japan Today, while french fries are now back on the Burger King Japan menu list, the fast-food chain still wants to find a new side menu. This is because there is still no assurance that the supply of potatoes will not be uninterrupted again.
Burger King Japan knows that the potato shortage crisis is still a threat to businesses. Thus, it is looking to add a new menu that can be a substitute in case the stores run out of french fries again. For this, the burger joint introduced dried ramen as a replacement when the fries are not available.
The company is adding the “Daitai Potato” in its combo meals, and this is a good alternative as the Japanese love ramen. This is also called the “Sorta Potato,” and this product also gives the same salty and starchy satisfaction that french fries lovers enjoy.
Burger King Japan will be serving Daitai Potato set instead of french fries, and this side is actually a bag of Baby Star Dodekai Ramen. This is a crunchy dried ramen noodle snack that is very popular in the country. The product is already a best-seller on its own so it is expected to become a hit as well when served at the BK restaurants along with the flame-grilled beef burgers.
It should be noted that Burger King Japan did not suspend the sale of its french fries, but it only added the dried ramen snack to combo meals as a new option. It was reported that the Daitai Potato Set will be available at BK stores around the country starting May 16. It will be initially offered for a limited time.
Burger King Japan stated in a press release, “In response to such a situation (potato shortage), we recruited companies and organizations that can propose a new side menu as an alternative to French fries. As a result, we received various proposals from more companies than expected.”
Finally, the company said that with all the proposals, it has decided to collaborate with Snack Company to offer the Baby Star Ramen, Baby Star Dodekai Ramen Chicken, and other snacks as an alternative to french fries.
