Yakult Honsha Co Ltd

Company Profile

• Business description

  Yakult Honsha is a pioneer in probiotics, which launched the probiotic drinks Yakult in 1935 after Minoru Shirota’s discovery of Lactobacillus casei Shirota, a strain of lactic acid bacteria proved to be able to live in intestines, in 1930. It operates in 40 countries across four continents selling mainly the Yakult probiotic drinks. Apart from the retail outlets, the home delivery channel, served by a team of 83,000 Yakult Ladies globally, contributes about 45% of its probiotic drink volume. Overseas markets comprise 40% of group sales and profits. Yakult has built a meaningful presence in populated emerging markets including China, Indonesia, Mexico, and Brazil. It plans to step up expansion in the US. It also operates a pharmaceutical business with an emphasis on oncology drugs.

• Contact

  1-19 Higashi Shimbashi 1-chome
  Minato-ku
  Tokyo105-0021
  JPN

  T: +81 335748960

  http://www.yakult.co.jp

• Sector

  Consumer Defensive

  Stock type

  Defensive

• Industry

  Beverages - Non-Alcoholic

  Fiscal Year End

  31 March 2026

  Employees

  29,627