Japan's Sato targets Canadian market

Sato Pharmaceutical of Japan is planning to accelerate its overseas activities by commencing sales in the Canadian market. The company, which already has a presence in the USA, Europe and Asia, will enter the Canadian over-the-counter sector next year, selling anti-inflammatory patches and nutritional drinks.

The firm's anti-inflammatory patches are already commercialized in the USA and some European countries, including the UK and Belgium, and Sato recently received regulatory approval to market them in Canada. Meantime, the company's Yunker range of nutritional drinks, which are currently sold in Taiwan and the USA, will be also be introduced to Canada, reports the Nikkei Business Daily.

Sato has subsidiaries in five countries, including Singapore, Germany and the USA and last year rang up 1 billion yen ($8.5 million) in overseas turnover, or 2% of total sales. The firm is targeting 5% of revenues from its foreign operations over the short term.