Raisio plc, Press Release, 10 June 2015
BENECOL LAUNCH IN CHINA
Raisio’s new Benecol partner Neptunus is launching Benecol powdered drink in China. This expansion to the world's most populated country supports Raisio’s aim to open up new markets for Benecol products together with its licensing partners.
Benecol powdered drink will be first sold at approximately 1,700 Nepstar stores, mainly in large cities of the east coast of China. The aim is to have Benecol powdered drink available in selected hospital stores and sales channels of health care professionals in six months. In the long term, Neptunus will focus on significantly expanding its sales network.
Raisio has worked determinedly to open markets for Benecol products, particularly in Asia and South America. The latest launches were carried out in Brazil in November 2014 and in South Korea in February 2015.
– The Benecol product launch in China will strengthen Raisio's strategically important expansion into new growing markets of Asia. Cholesterol levels are rising in China, so there is a need for cholesterol-lowering products. We have long worked to enter the Chinese market and we are very pleased to be partnering with Neptunus, the company that is investing in Benecol products, says Olavi Erkinjuntti, Sales Director of Raisio’s Benecol business.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one-third of the Chinese population have elevated cholesterol levels. Cholesterol levels have been rising as Western-style eating habits have become more common in China.
Raisio’s Benecol partner Hangzhou Neptunus Bioengineering Co. Ltd is part of the Neptunus Group whose turnover amounted to approximately EUR 2.1 billion in 2014. Nepstar Group, part of the Neptunus Group, owns the Nepstar stores and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
RAISIO PLC
Heidi Hirvonen
Communications and IR Manager
Tel. +358 50 567 3060
Further information:
Vice President Mikko Laavainen, Benecol Business, Tel. +358 40 576 8348
Picture of the Benecol powdered drink available at http://raisio.mediabank.fi/en/material/single/15469
Raisio plc
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 and Poland. Markets for cholesterol lowering Benecol products are global. Raisio plc’s shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd. Raisio’s turnover in 2014 was EUR 494 million. The Group employs some 1,900 people. Raisio’s best-known brands are Benecol, Benemilk, Elovena Honey Monster, Fox’s and Poppets. Benemilk feeds for milk production and Benecol for cholesterol lowering are Raisio’s top innovations. For more information on Raisio go to www.raisio.com/en
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NASDAQ OMX
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www.raisio.com
