Essendon Football Club is pleased to announce its partnership with Ball Sponsor Yakult has been extended for the 2009 season. Yakult – a probiotic product containing the live beneficial bacteria Lacto Bacillus Casei Shirota strain– first signed as Essendon’s ball partner in 2006.

Yakult was the first fermented milk product on the Australian market in 1994 and its popularity has grown dramatically over the past 14 years.

Essendon managing director Peter Jackson said Essendon is pleased to continue the partnership with the well respected company.

“Yakult have provided great support for the club over the past two years and it is fantastic to be associated with a product which provides great health benefit to our players and the community,” Mr Jackson said.

“Yakult have also provided strong support for some of our Essendon’s community initiatives such as the Dreamtime at the ‘G game.

“Essendon is a leader in the work we do to engage with the community and we appreciate the support Yakult has provided in this area. We look forward to continuing our strong relationship in the future.”

Yakult Managing Director, Mr Toshiaki Hirayama said Yakult is proud of its association with the Essendon Football Club.

“The Bombers understand the importance of contributing to the community from which they derive their support, just as Yakult wishes to make a contribution back to the community that has supported us since we launched in Australia,” Mr Hirayama said.

“We can think of no better way to support the community in which we are based than to support the most successful and professional club in the AFL”

The partnership was borne out of a player development tour to Japan in 2004 and has continued to strengthen from that time on.

Essendon has also recently welcomed Samsung as its new major partner and adidas as its apparel partner.