Manchester United Announces Partnership with Kagome, Japan

(NYSE:MANU) Manchester United Football Club has today announced a new three year partnership with Japan based soft drinks manufacturer, Kagome.

The new partnership which will last until the end of the 2015/16 season will see the well-known Japanese brand become the Club’s Official Soft Drink Partner in Japan.

Kagome produces a range of vegetable and fruit based soft drinks, including tomato juice, fruit & vegetable mixed juice and vegetable-origin lactic acid bacteria based drinks aimed at consumers who live a healthy and active lifestyle. Founded in 1899 Kagome has become Japan’s market leader in the production, cultivation and manufacture of tomato based products including tomato Ketchup, tomato Juice, vegetable mixed juice and fruit and vegetable mixed juice.

Manchester United’s Commercial Director, Richard Arnold said:

‘Kagome’s products symbolise health and wellbeing and what better way to endorse this than to partner with the number one club in the world’s biggest sport. This is the Club’s first partnership of its kind and we are delighted to be able to work with such a well-established company that, like United, has over 100 years’ experience in its field. Manchester United has almost 4 million followers in Japan and every time we visit, the welcome we receive is overwhelming. I hope that all of these fans will support this new way of connecting with the Club and enjoy some of the great products and activities Manchester United and Kagome will bring them.’

Mr. Ryo Koshino, Executive Officer, General Manager, Corporate Communication Division comments:

‘Kagome encourages and promotes a healthy lifestyle through exercise and vegetable intake. We feel our partnership with Manchester United, which is one of the world’s most popular football clubs, possessing a long history of tradition, will allow us to promote Kagome and our products to a wider audience. We will appreciate your continuous support of both Manchester United as well as Kagome products.’

About Manchester United

Manchester United is one of the most popular and successful sports team in the world, playing one of the most popular spectator sports on Earth.

Through our 134-year heritage we have won 60 trophies, enabling us to develop the world’s leading sports brand and a global community of 659 million followers. Our large, passionate community provides Manchester United with a worldwide platform to generate significant revenue from multiple sources, including sponsorship, merchandising, product licensing, new media & mobile, broadcasting and matchday.