- 随着中国零消费政策的结束，中国的经济重新开放，养乐多本社正寻求在其长期的核心市场重新获得地位。
- 该公司最近在无锡市开设了其在中国的第七家工厂，每天增加90万瓶的生产能力。
- 一种新的、低热量的养乐多招牌饮料也被推出，每包5瓶，售价为16.80元（2.50美元）。该公司的目标是每天销售40万瓶。
- 养乐多上个月在国内提价约10%，这是它自2015年在广州首次提价。据估计，此次提价将使2023财年的营业利润增加4600-5300万美元。
- 在大流行之前，中国是养乐多业务的核心，在截至2019年3月的一年中，养乐多在亚洲和大洋洲地区（不包括日本）产生了80%的营业利润。
- 在中国的零COVID年期间，销售额有所下降，亚洲和大洋洲的食品和饮料的营业利润预计将比2018财年下降40%。
- 日本一直在代替中国推动养乐多的增长，从2018财年到2022财年，食品和饮料销售预计将增长160%。
- 养乐多中国业务的未来是不确定的，因为酸奶市场（包括养乐多的乳酸饮料）目前处于低迷状态，店内销售仍然是养乐多在中国的主要销售渠道，而电子商务已经改变了零售格局。
- 围绕健康宣称的监管风险也仍然是一个问题，2021年，上海的一家养乐多销售子公司因作出COVID-19预防宣称而被罚款。
- 养乐多的股票表现一直由国内的成功和对中国前景的希望所推动，而酱油制造商龟甲万则由美国的增长预期所推动。
- 养乐多截至12月的三个季度的收益将在周五发布。
- Yakult Honsha is looking to regain its position in China, its longtime core market, as the country’s economy reopens following the end of its zero-COVID policy.
- The company recently opened its 7th plant in China in the city of Wuxi, adding 900,000 bottles per day to its production capacity.
- A new, lower calorie version of Yakult’s signature drink was also rolled out, priced at 16.80 yuan ($2.50) for a pack of five. The company aims to sell 400,000 bottles per day.
- Yakult raised prices in the country by around 10% last month, its first hike since 2015 in Guangzhou. The price hike is estimated to boost operating profit by $46-$53 million in fiscal 2023.
- China was central to Yakult’s business before the pandemic, generating 80% of its operating profit in the Asia and Oceania region (excluding Japan) in the year through March 2019.
- Sales declined during China’s zero-COVID years, with operating profit from food and beverages in Asia and Oceania expected to be down 40% from fiscal 2018.
- Japan has been driving growth for Yakult in place of China, with food and beverage sales expected to increase 160% from fiscal 2018 to fiscal 2022.
- The future of Yakult’s China business is uncertain, as the yogurt market (including Yakult’s lactic acid beverages) is currently in a slump, and in-store sales remain Yakult’s primary sales channel in China, where e-commerce has changed the retail landscape.
- Regulatory risks surrounding health claims also remain a concern, as a Yakult sales subsidiary in Shanghai was fined in 2021 for making COVID-19 prevention claims.
- Yakult’s stock performance has been driven by domestic success and hopes for its China prospects, while soy sauce maker Kikkoman has been driven by growth expectations in the US.
- Yakult’s earnings for the three quarters through December will be released on Friday.
链接：Yakult hopes for Chinese sales rebound of its probiotic drinks - Nikkei Asia