Red Bull tycoon Chaleo dies

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Published: 17 Mar 2012 at 13.12
Online news: Local News

Chaleo Yoovidhya, whose local energy drink became the global sensation Red Bull and made him one of Thailand's richest men, died on Saturday at age 80.

Chaleo passed away of natural causes at Chulalongkorn Hospital, reports said.Born in 1932 to a Chinese migrant family in Phichit, Chaleo in 1962 founded T.C. Pharmaceuticals, which developed the energy drink Krathing Daeng in the 1970s. The product became highly popular among local truck drivers and labourers needing a pick-me-up.Austrian entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz, who was working for a European consumer goods company, discovered Krating Daeng while on a sales trip to Asia in 1982. He later approached Chaleo and his son Chalerm about marketing the drink worldwide by forming a new business, which became Red Bull in 1984.Today Red Bull is...

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geoffo
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Discussion 7 : 20 Mar 2012 at 09.027
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Folks , no one denies the role Dieter Mateschitz has played, people are surprised however at the Thai connection.
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franco8221
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Discussion 6 : 17 Mar 2012 at 21.066
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rip
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bkkboy
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Discussion 5 : 17 Mar 2012 at 18.015
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It was Austrian guy named Dietrich Mateschitz who partnered with Chaleo and created the current energy drink empire it is today.
Also, Chaleo did not invent the drink - he "borrowed" the recipe and marketing ideas from Japanese drink Lipovitan-D while he was working as Teck Heng Yoo which still produces it in Thailand.
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barryw
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Discussion 4 : 17 Mar 2012 at 16.364
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All due respect, but it was a foreigner who recognised the potential of the product and made it into the success that it is.
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mouse
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Discussion 3 : 17 Mar 2012 at 16.303
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To Khun Chaleo Yoovidhya, R.I.P.
To your family and friends my condolences. Red Bull was great Thai invention and is still a good drink.
Did not one of the European big guys in Red Bull fall to his death recently in Bangkok?
The great product lives on.
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geoffo
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Discussion 2 : 17 Mar 2012 at 14.552
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Yes , it is a surprise to many farangs to learn the Swiss did not invent Red Bull.

May he rest in peace.
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dao
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Discussion 1 : 17 Mar 2012 at 13.341
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Respect to a Thai innovator .
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Red Bull tycoon Chaleo dies | Bangkok Post: news