Pocari Sweat launches in Viet Nam

TOKYO – Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd has reached an agreement to establish a joint venture in the functional food and beverage category. The newly formed company, Otsuka Thang Nutrition Co., Ltd., will launch Pocari Sweat in Viet Nam starting in the middle of August 2012. This will mark the 17^th market where the beverage is sold.

Pocari Sweat was first developed in 1980 under the concept of a "replenishment drink," and is designed to quickly replace water and electrolytes in the body lost due to perspiration. The beverage has become popular outside of Japan, especially in Asia. Today some 30 years after it was released, the overseas sales volumes of Pocari Sweat have outstripped sales in Japan.

Vietnam is a young country, the world's 13th largest population of 87 million, with the average age of 28. As a result, the market is expected to have solid growth

In Viet Nam, Otsuka Pharmaceutical will promote Pocari Sweat's importance of rehydration for the body as part of its efforts to establish the brand.