Yakult Honsha has established a new European research and development (R&D) unit in the Netherlands, positioning it as a “global hub for food innovation.”
Located within the corporate facility on Wageningen Campus in Gelderland, this center was set up with a significant investment of €3.7 million ($4.3 million).
“In recent years, addressing diverse consumer needs and regulatory requirements in each country has become increasingly important,” stated Yakult president Hiroshi Narita. He emphasized the goal of creating a global hub for food innovation to enhance health and wellbeing.
Furthermore, Yakult highlighted that “establishing an R&D center on Wageningen Campus—originated around Wageningen University & Research, a globally recognized research institution in life sciences—is a rare and valuable opportunity.”
They added, “This initiative will not only strengthen our product development capabilities but also enable us to explore new avenues for value creation that will drive future business growth. Through this global R&D framework, we aim to evolve into a truly global enterprise.”
In Europe, Yakult products are already being produced in the Netherlands, Belgium, UK, Germany, Austria, and Italy, among others.
Earlier this week, it was announced that Yakult will establish a branch in Austria, effectively merging with and absorbing Yakult Oesterreich—a wholly owned subsidiary within its European operations—starting October 1.
It is noteworthy that last year, Yakult closed a factory in China as part of its strategy to enhance the competitiveness of its local business.
