Ezaki Glico USA's Pocky Brand Celebrates 50th Anniversary

POCKY SHARE HAPPINESS TOUR IS IN LOS ANGELES AND CHICAGO APRIL-JUNE

POCKY AT SWEETS & SNACKS EXPO MAY 24-26

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May 03, 2016, 03:45 ET

IRVINE, Calif., May 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pocky Share Happiness Tour, sharing free Pocky with fans, has launched in Los Angeles and is coming to Chicago in May, marking Pocky's 50th Anniversary. Pocky (pronounced pah-kee) was introduced by Japan's Ezaki Glico Co., Ltd. in 1966 as "the world's first chocolate stick snack," a tasty, crispy cookie biscuit stick dipped in rich, dark chocolate cream with a unique "handle" for no-mess chocolate delight. Delicious alone or with coffee, tea, milk, or wine, Pocky is the perfect every-day, all-occasion, chocolate snack.

Happy fans enjoying free Pocky at the Share Happiness Tour in Los Angeles. Celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, the Pocky truck and its colorful team of brand ambassadors are touring Los Angeles and heading to Chicago in May, giving away thousands of free boxes of Pocky. Pocky will also attend the Sweets & Snacks Expo in Chicago May 24-26, 2016. To find out where the Pocky truck is giving away free Pocky and see where the tour goes next, follow Pocky on Twitter @Pocky.

The Pocky tour truck (appropriately wrapped in the same red as Pocky's packaging) is currently touring Los Angeles with its smiling, costumed brand ambassadors giving away free Pocky. Follow Twitter @Pocky for tour locations.

An irresistible snacking staple in Japan and now most of Asia, Pocky culture is about sharing happiness with friends, family, and co-workers - anyone, anytime, anywhere! Pocky is now in over 30 countries and is especially popular with Millennials and Asian culture fans here in the US. Come enjoy this unique Japanese snack and create Pocky Share Happiness memories of your own.

"We are thrilled to celebrate Pocky's 50th Anniversary. Sharing happiness around the globe has been an amazing journey for us," said Mr. Akitoshi Oku, President of Ezaki Glico USA. "We are eager for this year's Share Happiness Tour and excited to attend the Sweets & Snacks Expo in Chicago. Pocky is sharing happiness everywhere, and that makes us happy."

Pocky is sold at Costco, Amazon.com, Asian supermarkets and the Asian food section of most grocery stores, including Target and Walmart.

Visit Pocky's truck and colorful crew: Los Angeles April 20 - May 29 or in Chicago May 11 - June 19.

Pocky attends the Sweets & Snacks Expo www.sweetsandsnacks.com at Chicago's McCormick Place May 24-26.

About Pocky:

In 1922, Japanese company Ezaki Glico Co., Ltd. launched its fortified Glico caramel in a distinctive red box. Fifty years ago, in 1966, Glico released a new product—a chocolate-coated, pretzel-like cookie stick. Inspired by the Japanese onomatopoeia for the snapping sound from eating these crispy sticks, they named it "Pocky."

At first, each stick was hand-dipped in chocolate, leaving one end of the stick bare. This unique "handle" benefitted the hand-dipping process and eating Pocky without getting chocolate on your hands.

As demand increased, manual dipping was replaced with more efficient processes, but the signature handle remained. Packaging also evolved over the years, but kept its compact portability that makes Pocky perfect as an on-the-go snack. While the popular, creamy chocolate coating has not changed, new flavor varieties have been introduced, including Strawberry, Cookies & Cream, Chocolate Banana and Matcha Green Tea.

With plenty of sticks in each package, Pocky lends itself to sharing anytime, anywhere, with anyone, hence its brand theme, "Share Happiness."

Press contact: Dent Agency| Cristina Parker | [email protected] 917-684-0452

For further information visit:
https://twitter.com/pocky
http://www.pocky.com

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361840

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361869LOGO

SOURCE Ezaki Glico USA