［Alcoholic beverages］
KIRIN HYOKETSU Expands into U.S. RTD Market with Local Production Strawberry and Pineapple flavors debut in Florida and Hawaii
- Products and Services
February 27, 2026
Kirin Brewery Company, Limited
TOKYO, February 27, 2026 - New Belgium Brewing, the Kirin Group company leading its U.S. alcoholic beverage business, will launch two original flavors - KIRIN HYOKETSU STRAWBERRY and KIRIN HYOKETSU PINEAPPLE – under the KIRIN HYOKETSU (HYOKETSU) brand, manufactured and sold by Kirin Brewery Company, Limited (Kirin Brewery). The ready to drink cocktail will be available in Hawaii, Tampa, FL, and The Japan Pavilion at EPCOT theme park, operated by Mitsukoshi (U.S.A.), on March 2.
Created with American consumers in mind, the new flavors bring HYOKETSU’s signature crisp, fruit-forward taste to two key U.S. markets. Produced and sold locally in the U.S., the beverages deliver fresh fruit flavor in a convenient, easy-to-enjoy format.
The U.S. is the world’s largest ready-to-drink (RTD) market, accounting for approximately half of the global market※1. Fruit-forward flavors and convenience continue to make RTDs one of the fastest-growing segments in the category.
*1 IWSR（2024）
Since its launch in 2001, HYOKETSU has become one of Japan’s leading RTD brands, known for its crisp, fruit-forward profile. In Japan, the brand has sold a cumulative total of approximately 15 billion units※2, reflecting long-term consumer demand and brand strength.
*2 350ml equivalent basis, as of December 31, 2025.
Through local manufacturing and sales in the U.S., Kirin Brewery seeks to deliver fresh fruit flavor in a convenient format while building HYOKETSU as a scalable global brand.
Product Details
Product
- Strawberry and Pineapple, two flavors popular with U.S. consumers were selected for the launch.
- Designed for American tastes, the RTDs deliver HYOKETSU’s signature fruit-forward profile, with fresh fruit flavor and a light, easy-to-drink finish.
Package Design
- Packaging features HYOKETSU’s signature blue and silver color palette, signaling freshness and fruit character.
- The “KIRIN” and HYOKETSU brand names are clearly displayed, while the “CHU-HI” description references the product’s Japanese roots.
About Kirin Holdings
Kirin Holdings Company, Limited is an international company that operates in the Food & Beverages domain (Food & Beverages businesses), Pharmaceuticals domain (Pharmaceuticals businesses), and Health Science domain (Health Science business), both in Japan and across the globe.
Kirin Holdings can trace its roots to Japan Brewery which was established in 1885. Japan Brewery became Kirin Brewery in 1907. Since then, the company expanded its business with fermentation and biotechnology as its core technologies, and entered the pharmaceutical business in the 1980s, all of which continue to be global growth centers. In 2007, Kirin Holdings was established as a pure holding company and is currently focusing on boosting its Health Science domain.
Under the Kirin Group Vision 2027 (KV 2027), a long-term management plan launched in 2019, the Kirin Group aims to become “A global leader in CSV* creating value across our world of Food & Beverages to Pharmaceuticals.” Going forward, the Kirin Group will continue to leverage its strengths to create both social and economic value through its businesses, with the aim of achieving sustainable growth in corporate value.
*Creating Shared Value. Combined added value for consumers as well as for society at large.
