Suntory
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Suntory (サントリー) is a Japanese brewing and distilling company. Established in 1899, it is one of the oldest companies in the distribution of alcoholic beverages. Its business has expanded to other fields, and the company now offers everything from soft drinks to vintage wines. Suntory is headquartered in Dojimahama, Kita-ku, Osaka, Osaka prefecture.
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History
Suntory was started by Torii Shinjiro, who first opened his store Torii Shoten in Osaka on February 1, 1899 to sell imported wines. In 1907, the store began selling a sweet tasting red wine called Akadama Port Wine. The store became Kotobukiya company in 1921 to further expand its business. In December 1924, Yamazaki Distillery began its production of malt whiskey. Five years later Suntory Whiskey Sirofuda (White Label), the first single malt whiskey made in Japan, was sold.
Due to wartime shortage of World War II, Kotobukiya was briefly forced to halt its development of new products. In 1961, Kotobukiya launched the famous "Drink Tris Whiskey and Go to Hawaii" campaign. At the time, a trip abroad was considered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. In 1963, Kotobukiya changed its name to "Suntory", taken from the name of famous whiskey it produces. In the same year, Musashino Beer Factory began its production of the Suntory Beer. In 1997, the company became Japan's sole bottler, distributor, and licensee of Pepsi products.
In the media
A Reuters photo by Toshiyuki Aizawa from July 2003 showed Suntory's unusual marketing strategy of TV helmets. In this scheme, advertising company employees wear televisions on top of helmets, as well as orange jumpsuits. These televisions broadcast wide-screen digital feeds of the brewing company's commercial.
The brand was referenced in the American film Lost in Translation, whose main character was an American actor filming a Suntory commercial in Tokyo.
External link
- Suntory official site (http://www.suntory.com)
Data
- Yahoo! - Suntory Group Company Profile (http://biz.yahoo.com/ic/108/108178.html)
- Yahoo! - Suntory Limited Company Profile (http://biz.yahoo.com/ic/52/52517.html)ja:サントリー