Limited-edition bags of Kuaikuai (乖乖) snacks released by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) have been resold for 18 times their original price.
The green-packaged Kuaikuai snack is commonly used by Taiwanese technology workers as a lucky charm against computer malfunctions. It is often placed next to equipment to ensure that it does not break down. The practice is not only popular in the nation’s semiconductor industry, but also in government agencies and schools.
The name Kuaikuai in Mandarin means “be good,” and the green packaging symbolizes smooth operation, as green lights on machinery and equipment in chip wafer fabs indicate normal operation, while yellow lights indicate standby and red lights indicate warning or malfunctions.
Photo: Hung Yu-fang, Taipei Times
TSMC on Thursday said that its revenue would grow by up to 25 percent this year.
On the same day, TSMC’s annual limited edition bags of Kuaikuai went on sale for employees, who could purchase the snacks at 7-Eleven stores in TSMC factories for NT$24 per package.
TSMC asked its employees to buy at least two packages, but no more than 12, a source familiar with the issue said yesterday.
Employees lined up to snap up the limited products, the demand of which far exceeded the supply, the source said.
Many of the snacks have since been resold online at NT$100 to NT$250 per package, with the highest price being NT$450.
Some people online joked that the sharp rise in the cost of Kuaikuai was greater than that of TSMC’s stock price.
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