22 Oct 2009 --- Raisio’s new partner in Colombia, Cooperativa Colanta Limitada (Colanta), will launch a line of Benecol products containing plant stanol ester on the Colombian market under their brand name Colanta Benecol. Colanta is the first company to introduce Benecol products in Colombia. With this new partnership, Raisio continues its efforts in reaching new market areas in South America where the need for cholesterol-lowering functional foods is growing.

Colanta is a major dairy manufacturer in Colombia, sales account for over EUR 500 million. In its nine production locations, the company produces a full line of dairy products including yogurts, milk products, soft cheese, fresh cheese and aged cheeses. Products sold under the Colanta Benecol brand include yogurt, fresh cheese, cream cheese and milk and they will have a major presence in grocery retailers around the country.

Raisio’s CEO Matti Rihko says: “The launch in Colombia represents a significant expansion of Benecol products in South America and is an indication of Raisio's ability to expand into new markets with major local partners. We are very pleased having Colanta as our new partner. We view South America as an interesting opportunity for Benecol products."

Benecol products are currently sold in thirty countries covering five continents. Almost 60 published high quality clinical trials and fourteen years of safe use as a foodstuff attest to the safety and cholesterol lowering efficacy of plant stanol ester. Benecol, the pioneering expert in cholesterol-lowering functional foods, is a global trademark owned by Raisio. Plant stanol ester is an ingredient patented worldwide by Raisio.

Elsewhere the cholesterol lowering plants stanols Benecol are now being offered in the smoothie category (brand licensed from Raisio). Recently McNeil Nutritionals launched the Benecol Fruit and Dairy Smoothie, a combination of skim milk, oranges, mango, pineapple and other flavours, in the UK and Ireland. The new product contains 2 grams of plant stanol, giving it a once-a-day use recommendation. This follows Kalbe Nutritionals’ introduction of Nutrive Benecol blackcurrant and strawberry smoothies in Indonesia last year. Swiss dairy company Emmi presented their concept for a smoothie with Benecol at the Anuga trade show in Cologne earlier this month.