GRACE Inc., a global health & beauty distribution company, is bringing SAVAS, Japan’s leading sports nutrition brand, to Korea in earnest as its official importer and distributor, setting its sights on the Korean sports nutrition market.
Operated by Meiji, one of Japan’s leading food companies, SAVAS has built up 46 years of experience in sports nutrition research and product development since its launch in 1980. With a portfolio ranging from chocolate, milk and yogurt to nutritional foods, Meiji has cultivated more than a century of research and manufacturing expertise in food and nutrition. Drawing on this experience, the company applies rigorous standards at every stage, from raw material selection to production, hygiene, and quality control, and leverages scientific nutritional design and R&D capabilities to deliver products that balance taste and nutrition. Meiji’s long-standing expertise in food and nutrition, together with its quality control know-how, forms the foundation of trust in the SAVAS brand.
SAVAS has grown by applying its accumulated sports nutrition research and athletes’ dietary data to product development. In 1982, Meiji established a system for surveying athletes’ eating habits. Since then, based on dietary surveys of more than 2,000 athletes and student athletes, it has studied the nutrients needed to care for the body and incorporated the findings into the nutritional design of its products. Beyond protein, SAVAS has deepened its sports nutrition expertise by taking into account other essential nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, according to the characteristics of each product, while also researching taste, solubility, and ease of consumption.
This research foundation has also translated into a strong competitive edge in Japan. According to data published by Meiji, SAVAS ranks No. 1 in Japan’s protein powder market by cumulative sales by brand, and holds a 79% share of the protein beverage market. Backed by years of research and product development know-how, SAVAS has established a firm position in Japan’s sports nutrition market.
The brand’s experience with renowned athletes is another testament to its heritage. A prime example is its relationship with world-class baseball player Shohei Ohtani, often cited as a showcase of SAVAS’s sports nutrition expertise. Meiji began advising Ohtani on the use of SAVAS products in 2014 and signed an advisory agreement with him in 2015. Through continued activities since then, the brand has built recognition for its expertise in sports nutrition and conditioning. In addition, building on its interest in professional sports such as MLB and the NBA and in athletes’ nutritional management, SAVAS continues to turn the experience gained across a wide range of sports settings into stronger product competitiveness and established expertise in sports nutrition.
To effectively deliver SAVAS’s brand strengths and expertise to the Korean market, GRACE Inc. will lead the brand’s distribution and marketing in Korea. The company plans to introduce the brand and its products through major retail channels, led by Olive Young, and to expand touchpoints with local consumers to build brand awareness. Going beyond simple product distribution, GRACE aims to combine channel strategies and marketing activities tailored to the brand’s characteristics to support SAVAS’s successful entry and sustained growth in the Korean market.
GRACE Inc. is a global health & beauty company that has maintained long-term partnerships with global companies and brands with a long heritage, helping overseas brands enter the Korean market while also taking Korean brands global. Building on partnerships and business experience with leading global companies in Japan, China, the U.S., and beyond, GRACE supports overseas brands entering Korea, while connecting Korean brands to overseas markets including Japan, Taiwan, and the U.S. In particular, as a “Global Brand Builder” covering the entire process from brand discovery and launch to distribution channel development, marketing, and localization, GRACE develops growth strategies tailored to each brand’s characteristics and target market.
“SAVAS is a brand that combines 46 years of sports nutrition expertise with brand competitiveness proven in the Japanese market,” said a GRACE Inc. spokesperson. “Leveraging GRACE’s domestic distribution network and marketing capabilities, we will effectively deliver SAVAS’s products and brand value to Korean consumers, and expand its touchpoints in the Korean market through major retail channels such as Olive Young.”
GRACE Inc.
Inquiries : info@graceint.com
