Asahi Soft Drinks

Asahi Soft Drinks Co., Ltd
アサヒ飲料株式会社

Type	Private KK
Industry	Beverages
Founded	1982-03-30
Headquarters	1-23-1 Azuma-bashi, Sumida, Tokyo, Japan 130-8602
Products	Mitsuya Cider, Wonda coffee, White Milk Tea, others
Revenue	¥11,081,688,000 (2006)
Number of employees	1400 (2006)
Parent	Asahi Breweries
Website	http://www.asahiinryo.co.jp/

Asahi Soft Drinks Co., Ltd (アサヒ飲料株式会社, Asahi Inryō Kabushiki Kaisha^?) is a soft drink company founded in 1982 and headquartered in the Azuma-bashi district of Sumida, Tokyo, Japan. It is a subsidiary of Asahi Breweries. The company sponsors the Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers, an American football team in the Japanese X-League, as well as a futsal team.

In 1884, Mitsuya Hiranosui (三ツ矢平野水^?) (later called "Mitsuya Cider") began being sold. After becoming an Imperially licensed beverage company in 1909, Mitsuya Champagne Cider began being sold. In November 1951, Asahi Bakushu (now Asahi Beer) acquired the rights to manufacture and distribute Bireley's Orange and Wilkinson Ginger Ale from General Foods and Ellis Wilkinson Ltd., respectively; both drinks are still sold in Japan despite being discontinued in their original countries. By April 1953, Mitsuya Cider was manufactured using only sugar for sweetener.

Bireley's began being sold in cans in March 1959. In March 1972, Mitsuya Vending Corporation was established, and Asahi Bakushu entered the beverage vending machine business. Mitsuya Coffee, sold in cans, was introduced in October 1981. Mitsuya Foods Corporation was established in March 1982, and the Mitsuya Vending Corporation was merged into this new company. This is considered the beginning of Asahi Soft Drinks. The canned Mitsuya Coffee product name was changed to "NOVA" in September 1986, and footballer Diego Maradona began doing commercials for the coffee.