Asahi Group Holdings Announces Franchise Agreement with KSF Beverage Holdings
Calpis Water to Launch in Mainland China for the First Time in May 2025
Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd. announced the signing of a franchise agreement with KSF Beverage Holdings Co., Ltd. (hereinafter KSFB), a leading Chinese beverage company. This marks the first introduction of Calpis Water in mainland China, with the launch scheduled for May 2025. Asahi Group is also considering expanding the Calpis brand lineup in mainland China in the future.
Under the terms of the franchise agreement, Asahi Group Holdings will be responsible for product development, manufacturing technology support, marketing, and brand management for the Calpis Water, while KSFB will handle manufacturing, distribution, and sales. We expect this partnership to allow the Asahi Group to specialize in product development and marketing in mainland China, while KSFB expands its portfolio with products of unique value and bolsters its sales capabilities, creating mutual benefits for both companies.
China's soft drinks market, with a population of approximately 1.4 billion, was valued at approximately $151.5 billion in 2022, making it the second largest in the world after the United States in terms of value and the largest by volume1. The market is positioned for continued growth, driven by the expanding middle-income class and the global trend towards health consciousness.
The Asahi Group is a global leader offering a diverse collection of brands centered on beer, alcohol and non-alcohol beverages, and food. As part of its Medium to Long-Term Management Policy aimed at achieving a business portfolio that focuses on growing existing businesses centered on beer category, and expanding into new areas. The company seeks to achieve sustainable growth and enhance its corporate value over the medium to long term through overseas business expansion in partnerships with local companies, including this franchise agreement.
We are looking forward to delivering the unique value of the Calpis brand to many customers by introducing our Calpis brand of ready-to-drink products for home use in mainland China. We are confident that our partnership with KSFB, a leading Chinese comprehensive food company, will allow us to leverage our respective strengths and lead to the sustainable growth and medium- to long-term enhancement of corporate value for both companies.
As one of the national brands in China, KSF Beverage Holdings is committed to providing our consumers with products that are delicious, nutritious, and safe. Our collaboration with the globally esteemed Asahi Group aims to enrich the lives of our customers through the popular Calpis products. Together, we aspire to a brighter future marked by high-quality development.