Benecol yoghurt drinks come to South Korea through Lotte partnership

The launch means Raisio’s is coming good on its mission to expand into new markets of Asia and South America.

Lotte has combined the Benecol brand with its own dairy brand, Pasteur. Pasteur Benecol yogurt drinks will be first available through Lotte’s home delivery channel in February. 

Distribution will be expanded over the spring to the top three hypermarkets and convenience stores around South Korea. Then the plan is to widen future distribution to cover all major retailers in the country.

According to Olavi Erkinjuntti, sales director of Raisio’s Benecol ingredients and 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​,” said Erkinjuntti. 

“South Korea is a prosperous country with some 50m people, and its consumer product market offers attractive growth opportunities for Benecol. According to the World Health Organisation more than 40% of the country’s population has elevated cholesterol levels​."

Lotte Foods is part of one of Asia’s largest consumer goods companies with net sales of around EUR60bn in 2013. 

It is among the best-known conglomerates in South Korea and is recognised across Asia. As a licence partner, Lotte provides the Benecol brand with opportunities, such as Lotte-made Finnish xylitol chewing gum, which has become successful in some Asian markets.