Raisio has taken its Benecol brand into another Asian market, with the launch of a range of smoothies in the Philippines, just-food.com reported.
The Finland-based food group has teamed up with Kalbe International, a subsidiary of regional nutrition and pharma company Kalbe Farma Tbk Group, to introduce the products into the Philippines.
Kalbe, which is the distributor for Benecol in Indonesia, is selling the smoothies under the Nutrive Benecol brand in the Philippines. Nutrive is a brand owned by Kalbe.
Raisio, which also sells Benecol products in Thailand and Hong Kong, claimed over 40% of the Philippines population – which numbers 100m – has “elevated cholesterol levels”.
The company said its tie-up with Kalbe in the Philippines had secured listings at 300 local stores.
Raisio launched Benecol in Hong Kong in September. To read just-food.com’s interview, published that month, with Mikko Laavainen, the VP for licenced brands at Raisio, on the Hong Kong launch and the company’s plans for emerging markets, click here.
