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Ten years on the Finnish market - BENECOL TARGETS NEW MARKETS

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Raisio plc       Press Release 16 November 2005


Ten years on the Finnish market
BENECOL TARGETS NEW MARKETS

Benecol margarine was launched in Finland exactly ten years ago on 16 November
1995. By a decade of tireless work Raisio and its partners have made Benecol the
leading cholesterol-lowering food brand in Europe.

Benecol products are currently sold by 14 partners in 20 countries. Markets offer
ten different kinds of Benecol foods, including margarines, yoghurt drinks,
yoghurts, cream cheese style spreads, milk and milk drink. Benecol ingredient,
stanol ester, is produced in Raisio, Finland and in Charleston, South-Carolina,
USA. Some 95% of stanol ester is used outside Finland. Last year the ingredient
sales growth exceeded 60% and this year the sales have continued to grow
approximately 20%.

Raisio has acquired the sales and marketing rights for Benecol in China, Japan
and Mexico from its cooperation partner McNeil Nutritionals LLC. Furthermore,
Raisio currently plans to launch Benecol products in Russia. New market areas
offer strong growth potential during the coming years.

Raisio has arranged several Benecol events for its partners, experts and other
interest groups this autumn. The main events include the Hearts & Minds symposium
held in Brussels in October and the Asian seminar held in Bangkok in November.
"Benecol's 10th anniversary" scientific seminar for the Finnish press will be
held on 18 November 2005 in Helsinki.

RAISIO PLC

Taru Narvanmaa
Executive Vice President, Communications and Investor Relations
tel. +358 50 590 9398

Further information:
Heikki Ruska, COO, Raisio Benecol Ltd
tel. +358 2 443 2049 or +358 50 567 4106

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