Greetings from the Management
Thanks to the loyal support of our customers, in 2008, sales volume for Asahi Super Dry, our mainstay brand in alcoholic beverages, surpassed 100 million cases for a 20th consecutive year. Our zero sugar*1 happoshu, Style Free, and Clear Asahi, a new genre beverage launched in March, also performed well, with each far exceeding initial sales targets for the year.
In soft drinks, our business integration in the vending machines business with Calpis Co., Ltd. has culminated in mutual synergies, including a dramatic increase in sales volume for our WONDA brand canned coffee. As for food and pharmaceuticals, we entered a capital and business alliance with Amano Jitsugyo Co., Ltd., which boasts top-level technological capabilities and manufacturing scale in Japan’s freeze-dried food market, in a bid to reinforce our base in the “food and health” business domain.
The year 2009, in addition to seeing the conclusion of our Third Group Medium-Term Management Plan, marks the 120th anniversary of Asahi Breweries’ forerunner, and the 60th anniversary of the Company’s founding. As such, we remain committed to business initiatives, particularly in alcoholic beverages but also, of course, in soft drinks, food and pharmaceuticals, and overseas, that will encourage further Group growth and profitability.
As in the past, the Asahi Breweries Group will continue to greatly value opportunities to interface with customers, taking to heart the customer feedback received in a never-ending cycle of management reform. In all corporate activities, be assured that respect for the customer’s viewpoint and the spirit of Asahi will always remain key considerations in the actions of each corporate officer and employee.
Your support will be vital to the success of the Asahi Breweries Group as we boldly face the challenges that lie ahead this year.
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