The Hindu : Business : Yakult Danone introduces probiotic drink

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 20, 2007
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Yakult Danone introduces probiotic drink

Staff Reporter

Keen to develop probiotic food market in India; will be launched in other metros in the next phase

The product is priced at Rs. 10 a bottle
The drink will be distributed through retail

— PHOTO: R. V. MOORTHY

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Kiyoshi Oike, Managing Director of Yakult Danone India, launching probiotic drink ‘Yakult’ in New Delhi on Wednesday.

NEW DELHI: Yakult Danone India (YDI) on Wednesday launched its first probiotics drink from its global portfolio of probiotic products — Yakult. “Living up to our philosophy of offering products that contribute to the health and well being of citizens across the globe, we are now offering our flagship product in India, starting from Delhi and its adjoining townships,” said YDI Managing Director Kiyoshi Oike.

Stating that the company aims to sell one-lakh bottles a day within a year through a unique distribution system, Mr. Oike said in the next phase, the drink would be introduced in other metros, while mini-metros across north India would be targeted next year. The product has been priced at Rs.10 a bottle or Rs. 50 for a pack of five bottles.

The company has already set up a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Rai Food Park in Haryana with an investment of Rs. 136 crore. “Yakult is the only probiotic drink that contains more than 6.5 billion beneficial bacteria (Lactobacillus casei strain ‘Shirota’ named after its founder Dr. Minoru Shirota) in a 65 ml bottle. The Yakult bacteria reaches the intestines alive to impart immense health benefits. Daily consumption of Yakult boosts immunity, aids digestion and prevents infections,” he added. “Though the market for probiotics food in India is still at a nascent stage, health consciousness among Indian consumers is growing at a healthy pace. As pioneers and the global leaders in this category we will play a major role in developing the probiotics food market in India,” said Mr. Oike.

“Across the world ‘Yakult Ladies’ go door-to-door and help consumers understand the health benefits of our products. We have about 50,000 ‘Yakult Ladies’ in Japan and 33,000 in other overseas markets. We are introducing this unique system in India as well. At present we have 30 such employees in Delhi. We will have around 500 ‘Yakult Ladies’ in Delhi and other metros in the next two years. In addition we will distribute Yakult through traditional and modern retail,” he added.

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