Originated from a grain-milling company in Finland, the 57-year-old Rasio Group developed a substantial export business which accounted for 39% of its sales by 1996. Its main products including margarine, pasta and other food products were manufactured, sold locally and exported. In 1995, a blockbuster product Benecol, cholesterol-lowering margarine, attracted the interest of food processors and supermarket groups throughout the world and fueled a surge of investor interest. Stanol ester is the active ingredient that provides the lower cholesterol benefit. There was huge marketing potential and profit opportunity for Raisio. However, its limited production capacity, limited supply of stanol ester, few facilities, limited experience outside Finland, different product formulation requirements, different marketing channels and complicated regulations in different countries challenged its further strategy.…