The Indian venture between Danone and Yakult is expanding its production capacity of probiotic fermented milk in response to rising demand.
"Indian consumers are increasingly becoming health conscious and the growing awareness about probiotics among urban population encourages Yakult to be represented in all major cities in India," said Minoru Shimada, managing director of the Yakult Danone India venture.
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The company’s only India manufacturing capacity, at Sonipat, in the northern state of Haryana, will be running on higher capacity by April next year, moving from 200,000 units per day to 300,000 units
In the future there could be new factories in south and west India, Shimada told just-food.
Shimada said Indian women and children are the major consumers of probiotic fermented milk sold in 65 millilitre plastic bottles through normal retail channels.
The company also employs more than 250 female marketers who visit homes to explain its health benefits to families.
Yakult was launched in India in 2007 through the 50:50 joint venture.
