Tokyo, August 24 - Asahi Soft Drinks Co. Ltd. (2598.T: Quote, Profile, Research) and other Japanese beverage makers have enjoyed a jump in sales so far this month thanks to a heatwave that has seen droves of sweltering consumers looking to quench their thirst.
Asahi Soft Drinks said that its beverage sales have risen by 10 percent year-on-year from the start of this month through Aug. 20, driven by a surge in demand for carbonated drinks such as "Mitsuya Cider" and bottled water.
Kirin Beverage Co. Ltd., a soft drink unit of Kirin Holdings Co. (2503.T: Quote, Profile, Research), said its beverage sales have risen by some 10 percent year-on through Aug. 20, running ahead of its full year forecast for 9 percent growth.
"The very hot summer is helping boost sales," said Kirin Beverage spokesman Eiji Asatani said. "We had a very hot summer last year, when the sales were up by 10 percent, but the growth is coming on top of that.
All of Japan's four regions tracked by the Meteorological Agency have been mostly hotter than average this month, with a heatwave pushing up electricity demand in many regions.
The jump in sales follow a sluggish July when the country had relatively mild weather.
Suntory Ltd., which distributes PepsiCo Inc. (PEP.N: Quote, Profile, Research) products in Japan, said the sales of the low-calorie "Pepsi Nex" drink have doubled so far in August from a year earlier. Overall beverage sales have risen by 10 percent.
A spokeswoman for rival Coca-Cola (Japan) Co Ltd declined to provide sales figures.