Japan-based Yakult Honsha has recently inaugurated its second factory in the Philippines to manufacture its renowned probiotic milk beverages.
The $34 million investment in this facility will see an initial production capacity of 1.38 million bottles per day, with plans to double to 2.76 million bottles daily after enhancements. Situated in El Salvador City on Mindanao Island, the plant will initially focus on Yakult production, followed by Yakult Light following upgrades.
Fully owned by Yakult Philippines, a subsidiary with a 40% stake held by Yakult Honsha, the remaining 60% is owned by Filipino entrepreneurs. The decision to establish the plant was driven by growing demand from Mindanao, southern areas, and Visayas regions.
Employing around 51 personnel, the plant covers 42,000 square metres and was established in 2022. Yakult Philippines, in total, employs approximately 1,450 individuals.
The first Yakult plant in the Philippines was set up in 1978 in Laguna, Luzon, manufacturing Yakult and Yakult Light. Yakult’s global operations commenced in 1964 with Yakult Taiwan, expanding to 39 countries and regions with a daily average sale of 31.55 million bottles.
For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, Yakult’s international business recorded net sales of $1.38 billion, contributing to the group’s annual report. In the third quarter of the 2023/2024 financial year, the group’s net sales reached $387 billion, while operating profit stood at $55.9 billion.
