Suntory to expand production capacity at its Ujigawa plant

Drinks manufacturer Suntory has announced it will expand the production capacity of its Ujigawa facility to meet changing consumer demands.

Suntory will install a new sterilised PET bottling line as part of the project, which will replace an existing hot pack line in the plant.

Installation of the new line will begin later this year, and the brand estimates that the project will be completed in August 2019.

Once completed, the line will expand the production capacity of bottled tea and coffee products by approximately 10 million cases annually.

Suntory decided to approve the upgrade as it acknowledged the growing interest in water, coffee, and tea categories in Japan by health-conscious consumers, and wanted to capitalise on these growing sectors.

The company also announced it will invest in its core brands in these categories and develop new products which meet consumer needs in the near future.

In a statement, the company announced it would “increase the promotion of products such as Suntory Tennensui and Boss, as well as products such as Iyemon and Suntory Oolong Tea in the sugar-free tea category.”