Raisio plc, press release, 5 February 2015
BENECOL PRODUCTS LAUNCHED IN SOUTH KOREA
Raisio’s Benecol partner in Korea, Lotte Foods Co. Ltd., has launched Benecol® yogurt drinks in the form of Health Functional Food in South Korea. The Benecol product launch in South Korea supports Raisio’s aim to expand into new markets particularly in Asia and South America.
Lotte’s Benecol products sold in South Korea combine the Benecol brand with Lotte’s own dairy brand Pasteur. Pasteur Benecol yogurt drinks will be first available through Lotte’s Home Delivery channel in February. During the spring, the distribution will be expanded to top three hypermarkets and convenience stores around Korea. Lotte’s plan is to widen the distribution in the future to cover all major retailers in Korea.
According to Olavi Erkinjuntti, Sales Director of Raisio’s Benecol ingredients & licensing business, the launch will further strengthen Benecol’s position in the growing markets of Asia. “In addition to Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong and the Philippines, South Korea is the fifth country where Benecol operations are expanded to in Asia. South Korea is a prosperous country with some 50 million people and its consumer product market offers attractive growth opportunities for Benecol. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) more than 40 per cent of the country’s population has elevated cholesterol levels."
Lotte Foods is part of the Lotte Group, one of the largest consumer goods companies in Asia. Net sales of the Group were about EUR 60 billion in 2013. Lotte is among the best-known conglomerates in Korea and recognized throughout Asia. As our license partner, the company provides the Benecol brand with many opportunities. Lotte has, for example, made Finnish xylitol chewing gum a successful product in the Asian markets.
Raisio will actively continue its efforts to launch Benecol products into new markets, especially in Asia and South America. The latest example of this is the launch of Benecol products in Brazil late 2014.
RAISIO PLC
Heidi Hirvonen
Communications and IR Manager
Tel. +358 50 567 3060
Further information:
Vice President Mikko Laavainen, Benecol Business, tel. 040 576 8348
Picture: http://raisio.mediabank.fi/en/material/single/15358
Raisio Group briefly
Raisio plc is an international specialist in plant-based nutrition. Raisio’s operations are divided into two divisions: Brands and Raisioagro. The Group’s key market areas are Finland, Great Britain, the Czech Republic, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Estonia and Sweden. Raisio plc’s shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd. In 2013, the Group's net sales totalled EUR 558 million and EBIT was EUR 39 million. The Group employs some 1,900 people. Raisio’s best-known brands are Benecol, Honey Monster, Elovena, Fox’s, Dormen, Juicee Gummee, Poppets and Benemilk.
Distribution
NASDAQ OMX
Key media
www.raisio.com
