Yakult eyes growth in western China with two new regional offices

Japan-based probiotic player Yakult has announced that its subsidiary Yakult (China) Corporation will establish two branches and start sales of its fermented milk drink through supermarkets and other retail outlets from the start of June 2016.

The two new offices – one in Kunming, Yunnan Province and another in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region – take Yakult’s presence in China to a total of 33 offices, with the new sales bases enhancing the company structure and presence in China’s western regions.

Yakult noted that Kunming is the capital of the Yunnan Province, which borders Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar, while Nanning is the main city in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and borders Vietnam. Both areas are expected to grow economically in the future, said the firm. 

Sales targets for the new offices, outlined in a Yakult news release, suggest that the increased presence in Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region will increase sales by 31,000 bottles per day for the 2016 fiscal year.