Tag: Yakult

  • Yakult Singapore Swaps Unpopular Orange Flavor for Peach, Sparks Consumer Debate

    Yakult Singapore Swaps Unpopular Orange Flavor for Peach, Sparks Consumer Debate

    The recent announcement regarding the discontinuation of Yakult Orange, a popular probiotic drink flavor, has elicited mixed reactions from consumers. For some, it comes as a surprise that this flavor was not as beloved as they had previously believed.

    Reactions to the Discontinuation

    Christine Heng, a 43-year-old music teacher, shared that she had always considered orange to be the preferred flavor until she discovered it was actually grape. She confessed that her regular monthly purchases of Yakult Orange for her family would drastically reduce due to the unavailability of her favorite variant.

    However, not everyone is mourning the loss of the orange flavor. A considerable number of comments were in favor of the change, with some people voicing their disapproval of the synthetic taste of the orange flavor. Comments such as, “I didn’t like how artificial the orange flavor was. I’m glad they replaced it,” and “Can replace any flavors, just don’t touch Apple and Grape,” reflect the varied consumer opinions on the matter.

    Farewell to Yakult Orange

    Despite the discontinuation, fans of Yakult Orange still have the opportunity to stock up on their favorite flavor until production officially comes to a halt at the end of this month. The drink will remain available as long as supplies last.

    Yakult, the probiotic cultured milk drink, was founded in Japan in 1935. It contains a strain of beneficial bacteria known as Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Shirota, discovered by its founder Minoru Shirota. Today, Yakult drinks are marketed worldwide, including regions such as Europe, Brazil, and Vietnam. In addition to the standard Yakult drink, there are other product ranges, like Yakult Plus. Furthermore, Yakult Peach was introduced in China in 2024.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the reaction of consumers to the discontinuation of Yakult Orange?
    Reactions are mixed: some consumers are disappointed, while others are glad about the change, criticizing the artificial taste of the orange flavor.

    Until when can consumers purchase Yakult Orange?
    Consumers can purchase Yakult Orange until the end of the month when production ends, or until supplies last.

    Where else are Yakult drinks available?
    Yakult drinks are available in several international markets, including Europe, Brazil, and Vietnam. They offer the standard Yakult drink and other product ranges like Yakult Plus.

  • Yakult opens first coffee store in Japan

    Yakult opens first coffee store in Japan

    Japanese probiotic beverage Yakult has opened its first coffee location in Japan’s Utsunomiya, which doubles as a service centre.

    The Yakult Gohonmaru Cafe & Gallery, which opened last month, has two levels and includes a beauty salon as well as a gallery.

    On the first floor, visitors can try Yakult ice cream, chiffon cakes, and tiramisu with Yakult cream. The upper floor features a beauty salon, which provides facials using cosmetics created from lactic acid bacteria.

    The location also contains spaces for Yakult products and a care centre for Yakult staff.

    The company also intends to open a second place.

  • Yakult opens a dessert store in Japan

    Yakult opens a dessert store in Japan

    Japanese sweetened probiotic milk brand Yakult is to open a pop-up dessert store in Tokyo next month.

    Located at the Shibuya 109 building, the Yakult store will offer a range of ice creams, soft serves, and shakes, which are mixed with probiotic milk. Seven kinds of treats, including Yakult Parfait and Ice de Yakult, are developed in partnership with Imada Kitchen.

    The store exterior will present an artwork drawn by the illustrator ‘The Peach of Girl’, which features a “chill and refreshing” vibe and “a feeling of nostalgia”. The Yakult dessert store will open from June 1 until August 1.

    First introduced in 1935, Yakult has been known as a healthy beverage that helps maintain good gut flora, as each bottle is said to contain more than 10 billion ‘Lactobacillus paracasei Shirota’ bacteria.

  • Yakult Indonesia still relies on imported milk for dairy drinks

    Yakult Indonesia still relies on imported milk for dairy drinks

    Yakult Indonesia Persada, one of the major producers of fermented milk products, still relies on imported raw materials for its production in Indonesia.

    Yakult Indonesia vice president and director Hiroyuki Kawada said the company had to import ingredients because local milk had yet to meet the standards for the company’s fermented milk |production.

    “We mostly import the skimmed milk from Australia, and the rest is from Belgium,” he said.

    Yakult Indonesia Persada, a subsidiary of Japan-based Yakult Honsha, was established in1990. The company operates a factory in Sukabumi, West Java, and another in Mojokerto, East Java.

    The factories can produce 6.6 million 65-millilitre bottles of cultured dairy drink a day. The company sells its fermented milk through supermarkets and through “Yakult Lady”, a sales force of women who sell the product door-to-door in many parts of the country.

    “There are 7,600 Yakult Ladies now, and they can reach 30 houses per day each,” said Antonius Nababan, the companies marketing communication and commercial (MCC) director. Zulkarnain, the MCC’s senior assistant manager, said sales averaged 5 million bottles a day.

    Indonesia was the second-biggest market for Yakult products after Japan, which has 10.18 million consumers.