BENECOL® PRODUCTS LAUNCHED IN THAILAND
Raisio plc, Stock Exchange Release 18 December 2008 at 8 a.m. Finnish time
BENECOL® PRODUCTS LAUNCHED IN THAILAND Raisio's partner in Thailand, Saha Pathanapibul plc (Sahapat), will launch a Benecol® dietary supplement drink containing plant stanol ester on the Thailand market under the brand Hearti Benecol. Thailand is the third Asian country in which Benecol products have been launched during 2008. Raisio will continue its preparations for reaching new market areas and launching interesting new products also in other parts of Asia where the markets for cholesterol-lowering functional foods are growing. Raisio's partner Sahapat is a listed, an affiliated company of the global Saha Group. Saha Group's product range includes foodstuffs and an extensive selection of fast moving consumer products. The Group manufactures and distributes more than 30,000 products under more than 1,000 brands. In 2007, Sahapat's turnover was EUR 340 million. Sahapat has previous experience in the successful marketing of functional foods in Thailand. Western ways and eating habits have also become more popular among the 65 million inhabitants of Thailand. Thais are showing rapidly increasing interest in and awareness of the impact that diet has on health and the prevention of illnesses. More than thirty per cent of Thais over the age of thirty, and one-half of Thais over the age of fifty, have increased blood cholesterol levels. The Hearti Benecol dietary supplement drink will be sold in the country's largest cities, for example in store chains that are also known in the Western countries. Sahapat has an extensive distribution and sales network in Thailand. The product launch will be supported by a major advertisement campaign as well as seminars for health care professionals and store events in cooperation with a Heart Association of Thailand. Raisio's CEO Matti Rihko says: “The launch of Benecol products in Thailand is an indication of Raisio's ability to enter new markets with major local partners. Experience has shown that the first player on the market creates a whole new category and often achieves a significant market position. Ultimately, however, it is the consumers who decide the success of products.” Benecol products are currently sold in almost thirty countries worldwide. So far, over fifty published high quality clinical trials and thirteen years of the safe use as a foodstuff ensure the safety and cholesterol lowering efficacy of plant stanol ester. Benecol®, the pioneering expert in cholesterol-lowering functional foods, is a global trademark owned by Raisio. Plant stanol ester is an ingredient patented worldwide by Raisio. Raisio plc Heidi Hirvonen Communications Manager tel. +358 50 5673060 For further information, please contact: Matti Rihko, CEO, Raisio plc, tel. +358 400 830727 Vincent Poujardieu, Vice President, Ingredients Division, tel. +32 49740676 Distribution NASDAQ OMX Key media www.raisio.com