Yakult 
JAPAN: Yakult boosts FY profits despite sales fall
14 May 2010
Probiotic drinks maker Yakult has increased its full-year profits despite a fall in annual sales.
INDIA: Danone launches flavoured milk in India
15 February 2010
Danone has launched a flavoured milk in India, marking the French food giant’s first dairy launch in the country.
US: Yakult to build first US plant
22 January 2010
Japanese probiotics maker Yakult plans to expand its operations in the US with the opening of its first production facility in the market.
A bad few weeks for good bacteria
14 October 2009
The news today that a TV ad for Danone's Actimel yoghurt has been banned by the UK’s advertising watchdog provides a further example of the controversy that has dogged the probiotics sector. Ben Cooper reports on a market that has somehow managed to attract growth and scepticism in equal measure.
EU: EFSA rejects probiotic health claims
2 October 2009
A number of health claims for ‘probiotic’ drinks and yoghurts have been rejected by Europe's food safety watchdog.
INDIA: Yakult Danone plans to expand distribution
7 September 2009
Yakult Danone India is expanding distribution of its probiotic yoghurt drink, the company confirmed today (7 September).
US: Waypharm eyes US functional foods market
21 August 2009
Newly-formed US functional food group Waypharm USA plans to launch products in "several" food categories in the next three years, its CEO has told just-food.
JAPAN: Yakult sees more profit pain ahead
15 May 2009
Yakult Honsha Co., the Japan-based firm behind the namesake probiotic drink, has posted a 32% fall in annual earnings – and forecast that profits would slide again in the year ahead.
Danone prepares solo Indian foray
17 April 2009
Danone has formally exited its Indian joint venture with the Wadia Group, selling its stake in biscuit maker Britannia Industries to the family-owned conglomerate. While the company has indicated that it intends to continue its push into the Indian market, the French group will have taken some important lessons from its history of failed joint ventures in emerging markets. Katy Humphries reports.
CHINA: Yakult “increasing China output”
5 March 2009
Japanese probiotic company Yakult Honsha Co. reportedly plans to increase Chinese production capacity for its Yakult lactic acid drink by 40%.
US: Yakult extends probiotic to Texas market
24 February 2009
From the beginning of next month, Danone US will make its probiotic dairy beverage, Yakult, available to consumers in Texas.
US: Yakult signs Safeway deal
9 February 2009
Yakult US has signed a deal to sell its namesake probiotic brand in more than 200 Safeway grocery stores in northern California.
JAPAN: Kirin exits Yakult JV
20 November 2008
Kirin Holdings has announced plans to dissolve its health food joint venture with Yakult Honsha.
Japanese firms stress food safety to gain Chinese sales
2 October 2008
For the saddest of reasons, food safety issues are front of mind for anyone looking at the Chinese food market. Japanese companies have been active investors in China for some time, and see their high standards of food safety as a key marketing asset, one only likely to be accentuated by recent events. Michael Fitzpatrick and HsiaoYing Lin in Tokyo, and Ben Cooper report.
MEXICO: Yakult expands Soful production
8 September 2008
Japan's Yakult Honsha Co. is looking to build on the success of drinking yogurt Soful in Mexico by building a second production plant for the product.
CHINA: Japanese manufacturers eye Chinese growth
3 September 2008
Two top Japanese food makers have announced expansion plans in northern China to take advantage of rising demand for premium foreign food in the country.
Kraft follows its gut instinct
9 May 2008
The recent tie-up between Swedish biotech company Probi and Kraft Foods underlines how significant the probiotic food sector is becoming to major food producers. Probi will be supplying probiotic ingredients for Kraft’s expanding LiveActive range, aimed at tapping into a market where consumer interest and sales are on the rise. Ben Cooper reports.
Doubts over Danone amid lack of Eastern promise
15 February 2008
2007 was something of a watershed year at French food giant Danone. The company behind brands including Activia yoghurts and Evian water has wisely decided to focus more on health and nutrition. However, its ongoing problems in India and China are causing concern among some industry watchers. Dean Best reports.
US: Danone unit refutes probiotic allegations
25 January 2008
Groupe Danone is refuting allegations made against its US arm, The Dannon Co, over misleading advertising claims.
US: Danone US arm sued over probiotic ads
24 January 2008
Danone’s US subsidiary has been hit with a lawsuit that claims the company of using false advertising to promote its probiotic yogurt in the country.
INDIA: Dairy firm Amul ups better-for-you presence
15 January 2008
Indian dairy group Amul is looking to boost its presence in the country’s fledgling better-for-you dairy category with a slew of product launches.
MEXICO: Japan's Yakult to "boost Mexico production"
4 January 2008
Yakult, the Japanese firm behind the eponymous probiotic yoghurt drink, is reportedly looking to up production of another of its brands in Mexico.
INDIA: Danone venture launches Yakult in India
20 December 2007
Danone and Yakult have launched the well-known Japanese probiotic drink in India.
The just-food interview, Hisashi Satoi, Yakult USA
26 November 2007
Yakult, the probiotic yoghurt drink famed the world over, has just launched into the mainstream US market for the first time. In this month's just-food interview, Dean Best caught up with Hisashi Satoi, vice president for sales and marketing at Yakult USA, to find out how the Japanese brand is trying to win over consumers sceptical about the benefits of bacteria.
US: Kraft launches move into digestion
3 October 2007
Kraft Foods has decided to take its line of LiveActive snacking and cottage cheeses into the US.
GLOBAL: Functional dairy drinks to boom, says study
28 September 2007
Sales of functional dairy drinks across Western Europe, the US and Japan are projected to reach over EUR6bn (US$8.5bn) by 2011, according to a study on the sector.
US: Californian launch for Yakult
25 September 2007
Japanese probiotic drinking yoghurt brand Yakult is being launched in southern California, the first time it has been made available to the mainstream market in the US.
UK: Yakult launches TV campaign
21 September 2007
Probiotic yoghurt brand Yakult has launched a new GBP5.5m (US$11.1m) advertising campaign in the UK.
INDIA: Danone signals fresh dairy interest
17 September 2007
Groupe Danone has signalled its interest in entering the fresh dairy market in India – but declined to comment on reports of talks over a possible tie-up in the country.
FRANCE/JAPAN: Danone's hands tied on Yakult stake
15 May 2007
Group Danone has agreed not to increase its stake in Yakult Honsha Co. for at least five years, the two companies said today (15 May).
Related research
Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd.
Datamonitor's Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd. - SWOT Analysis company profile is the essential source for top-level company data and information. Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd. - SWOT Analysis examines the company’s key business structure and operations, history and products, and provides summary analysis of its key revenue lines and strategy.Yakult Honsha is a Japan-based food and beverage manufacturer. The company primarily operates in Japan. It is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, and employs 17,361 people. The company recorded revenues of JPY293.5 billion ($2.9 billion) during the financial year ended March 2009 (FY2009), a decrease of 7.5% compared to FY2008. The operating profit of the company was JPY16.7 billion ($1.7 billion) during FY2009, a decrease of 25.6% compared to FY2008. The net profit was JPY11.3 billion ($1.1 billion) in FY2009, a decrease of 32.1% compared to FY2008.
Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd. - SWOT Analysis
Datamonitor's Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd. - SWOT Analysis company profile is the essential source for top-level company data and information. Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd. - SWOT Analysis examines the company’s key business structure and operations, history and products, and provides summary analysis of its key revenue lines and strategy.Yakult Honsha is a Japan-based food and beverage manufacturer. The company primarily operates in Japan. It is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, and employs 17,361 people. The company recorded revenues of JPY293.5 billion ($2.9 billion) during the financial year ended March 2009 (FY2009), a decrease of 7.5% compared to FY2008. The operating profit of the company was JPY16.7 billion ($1.7 billion) during FY2009, a decrease of 25.6% compared to FY2008. The net profit was JPY11.3 billion ($1.1 billion) in FY2009, a decrease of 32.1% compared to FY2008.
Premium Company Profile: Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd.
Yakult Honsha is keen on exploring growth opportunities in emerging and existing global markets. The company has strengthened its competitive position by undertaking growth initiatives such as increased marketing investments in the Yakult brand, realignment of its production plants and increase of capital investments.
