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August 2001

No. 7989 August 28
Suntory Marketing New & Improved Beverages For Fall Season


Suntory has improved its line of Lipton tea drinks (including lemon, straight and milk) and will begin selling the new products on September 18. The new drinks feature a richer taste and redesigned packaging, which now includes a picture of the brand's founder, 'Sir Thomas Lipton.' At the same time, the company is also introducing SUNTORY OOLONG TEA in a 350 ml plastic bottle, as well as a hot version of the product in a 345 ml plastic bottle.

Suntory has also upgraded its SUNTORY HOT TOUMOROKOSHI (corn) POTAGE. The new version, which boasts a fresher taste and redesigned package, hits store shelves on October 2. SUNTORY COCOA, a hot canned beverage, will be released the same day in a newly designed container that features a teddy bear. The makeover is said to convey a sense of nostalgia and coziness.




No. 7988 August 27
Suntory Announces 11th Akutagawa Composition Award


The Suntory Music Foundation announced on August 26 that it awarded the 11th Akutagawa Composition Award to "Hibikiau Hedatari III (Echoing Distance III)," which was composed by Ms. Keiko Harada. At the same time, Ms. Harada received prize money of 500,000 yen.

The organization established the Akutagawa Composition Award in 1990 to praise the late Akutagawa for his significant contribution to Japan's musical circle.




No. 7987 August 24
Suntory to Exhibit Modern Japanese Art Works Fixed in Albums


The Suntory Museum of Art will exhibit masterpieces from the modern Japanese art works, which were fixed in special albums, from October 9 through November 18. Exhibits dubbed "Tekagami" and "Gajo" are paintings and calligraphic works produced in Nara (AD 8), Heian (AD 9/10/11/12) and Edo (AD 17) periods. The museum will display approximately eighty national treasures and important cultural assets.




No. 7985 August 21
Suntory to Market SAISHOKU KENBI Red Wine in Saitama


Suntory will market its SAISHOKU KENBI red wine in specially marked bottles solely in Saitama Prefecture from August 28. Labeling on the product commemorates the founding of Saitama City on May 2001.

A 600ml bottle will retail for 590 yen. A portion of the sales proceeds will be donated to a welfare fund for senior citizens.




No. 7984 August 21
Suntory Adding New Flavors to Cocktail Bar CB Line-up


Suntory will add peach and melon to its Cocktail Bar CB line of canned cocktails starting on September 4. The new beverages are officially named Peach Shooter and Melon Go-Round to conjure up a festive and joyful image that is targeted at younger consumers.

Both items come in 250 ml cans and will retail for 210 yen each.




No. 7983 August 21
Suntory Expanding TOTTEOKI KAJITSU NO OSAKE Line


From September 4th, Suntory will start marketing its TOTTEOKI KAJITSU NO OSAKE fruit liquor in apple and prune flavors. The prune product will be sold on in the fall.

In terms of ingredients, the products use apples sourced exclusively from Aomori Prefecture (home of Japan's famed Fuji apple) and prunes from California. Both items come in 250 ml cans and retail for 194 yen each.




No. 7982 August 21
Suntory to Market MADONNA SEKT Sparkling White Wine


From September 11th, Suntory will start marketing MADONNA SEKT sparkling white wine, a new offering from the popular German wine MADONNA, which was first introduced to Japan in 1972.

The product is expected to push up sales of MADONNA through the Christmas and New Year seasons, when sparkling wines are in highest demand. A 750ml bottle will be sold on an open price basis.




No. 7981 August 21
Suntory to Market HIBIKI Whisky in Limited Quantity


Suntory will market a limited quantity of its HIBIKI whisky 21 years reserve in exclusive Arita and Kutani porcelain bottles starting in mid-December. The products comprise the company's Special Bottle Collection, which is introduced at the end of each year.

The exclusive products are popular with bottle collectors, as well as general consumers who purchase them as year-end and new-year's gifts. A 600ml bottle of each will sell for 30,000 yen.




No. 7980 August 21
Suntory to Market SAISHOKUKENBI FRUITIA White Wine


From August 28th, Suntory will start marketing SAISHOKUKENBI FRUITIA White Wine, which has been newly added to the company's SAISHOKUKENBI healthy wine line. The product contains six kinds of fruit, as well as an increased amount of organic acid, which is known to aid digestion and promote physical healing.

The product bottle has been designed to have a universal appeal, with the word "wine" appearing in braille on the neck of the container. A 600ml bottle will retail for 590 yen.




No. 7979 August 21
Suntory to market LINDEMANS wine from Australia


Suntory will begin marketing LINDEMANS, Australia's best-selling wine, on September 11. A total of 11 types will be offered on an open price basis. LINDEMANS wine is also popular in England and the United States.

Australian wine is highly regarded for its affordable price and fruity flavor, which goes well with various dishes. As a result, LINDEMANS wine sales have risen steadily not only worldwide, but also recently in the Japanese market.




No. 7978 August 21
Suntory kicking off MAGNUM DRY cash-back campaign


Suntory is kicking off a cash-back campaign in early September in light of growing sales of MAGNUM DRY.

Consumers can win a 500 yen rebate (via money order, gift card, or credit card) when they collect 48 points worth of stickers which come attached to individual bottles of MAGNUM DRY. They can also opt for an original T-shirt.

Since its release in June 1999, MAGNUM DRY has pushed up Suntory's sales of light malt beer products by 32.2%. The cash-back campaign is being held to demonstrate the company's appreciation to all those who have helped support the product. The campaign ends on October 31.




No. 7976 August 9
Suntory Holding Music Composer Exhibition 2001


The Suntory Music Foundation will hold Music Composer Exhibition 2001, featuring Takashi Yoshimatsu, at Suntory Hall on October 6. First started in 1981, the annual event consists of a concert featuring the work of Japan's finest music composers.

Founded in 1969 to mark Suntory's 70th anniversary, the foundation promotes the musical performing arts through a variety of activities, including sponsoring such annual awards as the Suntory Music Award and the Akutagawa Composer Award.




No. 7975 August 9
Suntory Announces Suntory Prize Winners


The Suntory Foundation announced that its annual Suntory Prize for Social Sciences and Humanities in fiscal 2001 has been awarded to 25 works out of a total of 191 entries. The works stem from the fields of political science and economics, literary and art criticism, life and society, and history and civilization. This year, the winners will share a subsidy of 35 million yen. Established in 1979 on the 80th anniversary of the company's foundation, the Suntory Foundation is committed to helping develop cultural and educational programs worldwide.




No. 7973 August 9
Suntory Implementing Safer Beer Container


Beginning in early September, Suntory will begin marketing its regular and light-malt beer in a new cardboard container. The specially designed container is safer to open than cans, which can accidentally cut fingers with their sharp aluminum edges.

The new container will initially be used for Suntory's "Malts" and "Shin Magnum Dry" beer brands in 350ml and 500ml sizes. Eventually, it will applied to the company's other brands as well.




No. 7972 August 9
Suntory Releases ECO Report 2001


Suntory has released ECO Report 2001, which explains the company's efforts to address important environmental issues. The report is based on government guidelines issued by Japan's Environment Ministry in a recent environmental report as well as its Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). ECO Report 2001 details Suntory's activities in terms of Life Cycle Assessment, or the process by which firms achieve sound environmental management, as well as the results of new "environmental accounting" methods which Suntory introduced last year. The report also covers the following points:

1. 100% recycling of waste and by-products achieved at Suntory plants nationwide
Suntory has achieved 100% recycling of waste and by-products produced at all its plants in Japan. These facilities turn out liquor, wine, soft drinks and pharmaceuticals. Suntory's affiliated group companies, including its Pepsi bottling facility, have also achieved full recycling.

2. Green Purchase Promotion
Suntory encourages all its affiliated companies to engage in "Green Purchasing." This includes acquiring environmentally friendly office supplies and related goods, such as plant uniforms made from recycled plastic bottles.

3. Preserving Natural Resources, Reducing Emissions
Realizing that there are limits to our natural resources, Suntory has managed to reduce consumption as follows: fuel (-8%), electricity (-4%), water (-4%), and CO2 (-6%).

4. Promoting development of Eco-Products
After issuing its "Eco-related product planning guideline" in December 1997, Suntory began developing eco-friendly packaging and marketing tools. Projects have included an "eco-bottle." The company also has significantly reduced production of cans, plastic bottles and cardboard boxes.

Suntory's latest ECO Report also includes a supplemental report containing hard data on the results of eco-related activities at its 14 plants and 8 affiliates in Japan and overseas.




No. 7971 August 7
Suntory to Expand Shizen no Chikara Health-Food Line


Suntory will begin mail order sales of Shizen no Chikara-Kurozu Ninniku on August 28. The product is being added to Suntory's Shizen no Chikara (Power of Nature) health-food supplement line first launched in March 2001.

The product consists of gel caps that contain healthy extracts of Kurozu (mellowed rice vinegar) and Ninniku (garlic). Processed to be odor-free, the product is easy to carry and ideal as a daily supplement that helps maintain good health. A package of 60 capsules will retail for 1,600 yen..




No. 7970 August 7
Suntory to Start Marketing Original Sweets for Fall 2001


Suntory will begin marketing six new types of candy on September 4.

The new confections are based on popular Suntory beverages, such as Nacchan, BOSS Cafe au lait and Hachimitsu Lemon. The Nacchan and BOSS candies (210 yen each) come in original cup containers that bear the familiar logo of each brand. Four other lines, including Soft Drink Mix 5 (150 yen), Nacchan 5 (180 yen), BOSS Cafe au lait + Milk candies (200 yen), and Hachimitsu Fruit candies (200 yen) come in plastic bags.




No. 7969 August 7
Suntory Expanding Super Chu-hi Product Line


Suntory will add "banana" flavor to its Super Chu-hi line of alcoholic beverages starting on August 21. Originally launched in 1999, Super Chu-hi has become the top seller in the competitive chu-hi market.

The new product features a mix of banana and yogurt. A 350ml can will retail for 140 yen, while a 500ml can will sell for 190 yen.




No. 7968 August 3
Suntory's Winery Earns ISO 14001 Certification


Suntory's "Tomi no oka" Winery in Yamanashi Prefecture was awarded ISO 14001 certification on June 8, 2001. The certification is an international standard that measures the quality of a company's environmental management system, or its ability to minimize its impact on the environment.

The winery earned the rating partially based on its ability to full recycle its waste. The winery achieved a 100% recycling ratio at the end of 2000 and it aims to further reduce its overall waste output and improve its recyclable ratio in the future.




No. 7967 August 3
Suntory Holding "Grape Harvesting Festival"


Suntory's "Tomi no oka" Winery in Yamanashi Prefecture will hold its annual "Grape Harvesting Festival" from August 24 through October 8. A wide variety of events will be held for the benefit of the general public during the event.

The annual event celebrates the joys of wine and also demonstrates Suntory's commitment to producing quality wine products.




No. 7966 August 1
Suntory Launching Improved KONNYAKU JELLY DRINK


Suntory will begin marketing its improved KONNYAKU (arum root) JELLY DRINK product line from September 11. Arum root is known to aid digestion. The root-based drink is popular not only for its healthy properties, but also for its gelatinous texture. The improved product line features fresher tasting grape and apple flavors, as well as redesigned packaging. The jelly drinks are considered an ideal snack. They come in a 250 ml paper pack and retail for 100 yen each.




No. 7965 August 1
Suntory Taking Orders for 2001 BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU


Suntory will begin accepting orders on August 1 for its 2001 BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU wine product line. This year's selection features 13 foreign and domestic labels, including three labels from "GEORGES DUBÆUF," known as the king of BEAUJOLAIS. BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU products accounted for 30% of wine sales in the Japanese market last year, and are loved by the world's wine lovers.

2001 BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU will be released on November 15.




No. 7964 August 1
Suntory Expanding Fruit Wine Selection Product Line


Suntory will add "Raspberry & Banana" flavor to its Fruit Wine Selection product line starting on August 21. A 500ml bottle will retail for 580 yen.

The Fruit Wine Selection product line was launched in March 2001 in response to popular demand, which has seen Japan's fruit wine market grow by over 20% last year. The line features other flavors, such as "Peach & Mango" and "Orange & Passion fruit."


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