Candy makers to boost sales

Candy makers to boost sales

TOKYO (Nikkei): Three major candy makers are stepping up their overseas marketing efforts, in light of the poor growth prospects in the domestic market, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported in its Tuesday morning edition.

Meiji Seika Kaisha Ltd. has set up a joint venture in Jakarta with Petra Foods Pte. Ltd., a major Singaporean candy maker, to produce chocolates and candies from around October, the business daily reported.

The venture aims to post first-year sales of around Y1 billion, or 10 percent of Indonesia's chocolate market, according to company sources.

Morinaga & Co.'s Taiwanese joint venture began selling its jelly-type beverage throughout the island this spring.

The company says it will expand its product lineup in Taiwan in the current business year, aiming for a 25 percent increase in local sales to some Y3.6 billion.

Ezaki Glico Co. will use its French joint venture's marketing channels to boost sales of its chocolate-coated cookies "Pocky," also called "Mikado," in Italy.