To
have a better quality control, the
sizes of the Yakult products have a maximum limit of 100ml per bottle
which can also leads the
consumer to finish their drinks as soon as possible and reduce the
infection rate. Yakult is difference from others beverage, likes
Coke and alcohol, if the main ingredient, probiotics, is infected by the
other bacteria
in the air, it will lost the main function of Yakult and may even change
the
probiotics shape and harm for the drinker.
Also
Yakult contain 16.7g of sugar per 100ml, the weight of sugar may concern as too
much but it is also a way to keep probiotics in the best condition.
The company also use the transparent plastic bottle instead of
paper one so that the buyer and producer can observe whether there is some unusual
situation in the drink. When they
deliver their product to different retailor, the company will require those
retailers to keep their product in a refrigerator to keep Yakult in good condition otherwise they will reject to deliver to those rule breaker.
2. We can only find the original
taste or the light version of Yakult in HK, will your company consider about
other version of product?
Yakult is an international brand and they
are providing different version of Yakult product in different countries. For example, they provide a collagen Yakult in
Japan and orange taste in Malaysia. In Hong
Kong, the manufactory is not big enough to extend one more type of product. Nowadays, Yakult only have Yakult, Yakult LT
and bansoreicha, the company may produce one more type of product if they can expand their factory.
3. HK people and the media have an
impression of too much sugar contains in Yakult. How does your company deal
with this?
As sugar is the main ingredient to keep the probiotics in good
situation, the company cannot overlook the health condition of the drink so
that they have Yakult LT version which has lower sugar and higher fiber inside. Also the size of Yakult LT is small than the
original Yakult drink because of the decreased sugar level.
4. How do the product lines in Hong Kong try to adapt the local market?
a. Design localized volume of bottles (100mL)- the largest volume of Yakult among countries since it localize for customers in Hong Kong whose culture prefers larger volume of drink.
b. Introduce light version Yakult with low sugar and high fibre- Since people in Hong Kong, especially whose working in offices, always din out and the meal outside usually contains high oil,salt and calorie and more meat than vegetables, they need high fibre drinks to maintain their digestive health. Also, people in Hong Kong like drinks with low or zero sugar as the awareness of health increased.
c. Change the strategy of Yakult mama into retailer stores selling
In Hong Kong, there were “Yakult Mama”, who are responsible for delivering Yakult to household to ensure the freshness of Yakult. However, the company observed Hong Kong is not suitable to adopt this strategy because of cultural difference. Family members were usually not stayed at home and they refuse direct marketing (door-to-door selling method), therefore, Yakult replaced “Yakult Mama” by publishing Yakult in convenient store.
5. Why are the volume sizes of the product various in different countries?
Yakult has localized its bottle size in different countries. In Australia, Europe, India, and Indonesia, Yakult comes in 65mL bottles. In the Americas (including Mexico, one of Yakult's largest selling markets), Japan, Philippines and South Korea, 80 ml bottles are available. In Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan and mainland China, and the United States. It is also available in Hong Kong where it comes in 100 ml bottles.
6. In order to increase market share, have you considered product diversity (produce different types of products) as your business strategy?
Yakult does not consider produce different types of products in Hong Kong as they want to focus on their core competencies and to better serve their customers and the factory has limited capacity and resources.
4. How do the product lines in Hong Kong try to adapt the local market?
a. Design localized volume of bottles (100mL)- the largest volume of Yakult among countries since it localize for customers in Hong Kong whose culture prefers larger volume of drink.
b. Introduce light version Yakult with low sugar and high fibre- Since people in Hong Kong, especially whose working in offices, always din out and the meal outside usually contains high oil,salt and calorie and more meat than vegetables, they need high fibre drinks to maintain their digestive health. Also, people in Hong Kong like drinks with low or zero sugar as the awareness of health increased.
c. Change the strategy of Yakult mama into retailer stores selling
In Hong Kong, there were “Yakult Mama”, who are responsible for delivering Yakult to household to ensure the freshness of Yakult. However, the company observed Hong Kong is not suitable to adopt this strategy because of cultural difference. Family members were usually not stayed at home and they refuse direct marketing (door-to-door selling method), therefore, Yakult replaced “Yakult Mama” by publishing Yakult in convenient store.
5. Why are the volume sizes of the product various in different countries?
Yakult has localized its bottle size in different countries. In Australia, Europe, India, and Indonesia, Yakult comes in 65mL bottles. In the Americas (including Mexico, one of Yakult's largest selling markets), Japan, Philippines and South Korea, 80 ml bottles are available. In Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan and mainland China, and the United States. It is also available in Hong Kong where it comes in 100 ml bottles.
6. In order to increase market share, have you considered product diversity (produce different types of products) as your business strategy?
Yakult does not consider produce different types of products in Hong Kong as they want to focus on their core competencies and to better serve their customers and the factory has limited capacity and resources.
