* COMPANY PROFILE/HISTORY
PHILOSOPHY / PROFILE / CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP
1930 Dr. Minoru Shirota succeeds in culturing and utilizing lactic acid bacteria,useful for maintaining health (Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota).
1935 Yakult is manufactured and introduced to the market.
1938 Yakult is registered as a trademark.
1940 Local offices of the Association for Promotion of Preventive Bacteria Strain Shirota are established in various parts of Japan for the purpose of marketing and distributing Yakult.
1955 Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd. is established. (Nishi Hatchobori, Chuo-ku,Tokyo)
Research Institute is established in Kyoto.
1963 Yakult launches its unique Yakult Ladies system of door-to-door distribution.
1964 Yakult Co., Ltd. (Taiwan) begins operations as the company's first overseas operation base.
1967 Yakult Central Institute for Microbiology Research is established in Kunitachi, Tokyo.
1968 The company takes over the management of the Sankei Atoms baseball team (now the Yakult Swallows).
Yakult S/A Ind. E. Com. (Brazil) begins operations.
Yakult is introduced to the market in a new plastic container.
1969 Hong Kong Yakult Co., Ltd. begins operations.
1970 Joie fermented milk is introduced to the market.
1971 The company begins the full-scale sale of cosmetics.
Yakult (Thailand) Co., Ltd. and Korea Yakult Co., Ltd. Begin operations.
1972 New head office building is completed in Higashi Shimbashi,Minato-ku, Tokyo.
Program of regular visits to senior citizens by Yakult Ladies begins.
1975 Biolactis Capsules ethical drug is introduced to the healthcare industry, thereby marking Yakult's entrance into the pharmaceutical business.
Sofuhl fermented milk is introduced to the market.
1978 Yakult Philippines, Inc. is established.
Mil-Mil fermented milk - developed through the direct culture of bifidobacteria - is introduced to the market.
1979 Yakult (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. begins operations.
The company verifies the anticancer effect of lactobacillus YIT 9018 and begins the development of a lactobacilli-based anticancer drug.
Yakult Seichoyaku intestinal regulator - an over-the-counter medicine - is introduced to the healthcare industry.
1980 Company stocks are listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Toughman health drink is introduced to the market.
1981 Company stocks are listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Yakult S.A. De C.V. (Mexico) begins operations.
Yakult 80 fermented milk drink is introduced to the market.
1982 Mil-Mil E fermented milk is introduced to the market.
1986 Fuji Susono Plant is completed for dairy-product manufacturing.
1987 Facilities for the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and beverages are completed at the Fuji Susono Plant.
1988 Calorian enriched nutritional liquid food product is introduced to the market.
1989 Revecy S.E. series is introduced to the market.
Bifiel, fermented milk containing bifidobacteria, is introduced to the market.
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1990 The company files an application with the Ministry of Health and Welfare for the approval to manufacture LC9018 immunitherapeutic anticancer agent (product name, Lemonal Injection).
1991 P.T. Yakult Indonesia Persada begins operations.
Representative office is opened in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Yakult 80 Ace fermented milk drink is introduced to the market.
1992 Bioscience Research Foundation is established.
1994 Yakult Australia Pty. Ltd. and Yakult Nederland B.V. begin operations.
The manufacture of the CPT-11 chemotherapeutic anticancer drug is approved, and the drug is introduced to the healthcare industry under the brand name Campto Injection.
The company receives the Minister for Health and Welfare Award for distinguished volunteer service on behalf of the program of regular visits to senior citizens.
1995 Yakult Belgium S.A./N.V. begins operations.
The sale of the CPT-11 chemotherapeutic anticancer drug is approved in France as a therapeutic drug for progressive recurrent intractable colorectal cancer.
Parabio Series premium-quality skincare product line is introduced to the market.
Yakult BL Seichoyaku intestinal regulator - which combines bifidobacteria and lactobacilli - is introduced to the market.
1996 Yakult Europe B.V. is established.
Yakult UK Ltd. and Yakult Deutschland GmbH begin operations.
Yakult Fuji Distribution Center is completed.
The sale of the CPT-11 chemotherapeutic anticancer drug is approved in the U.S. as a therapeutic drug for progressive recurrent intractable colorectal cancer.
1997 Fuji Susono Plant receives ISO9002 certification.
*(The ISO9002 standard, as a result of ISO standard revisions, was integrated into the ISO9001 standard as of October 2002.)
Yakult Argentina S.A. begins operations.
The company receives the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Award (in the Consumer Division) at the Excellent Corporations of Food Industry Awards.
Revecy-N Series skincare product line is introduced to the market.
1998 Ten Yakult plants and one subsidiary plant receive HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) approval for total hygienic control in their production processes.
*All the food plants (ten Yakult plants and nine subsidiary plants) had obtained approval as of October 2001.
Yakult is approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare for labeling as Foods for Specified Health Uses.
Bansoreicha is introduced to the market.
Spherex arterial embolization material is introduced to the healthcare industry.
Yakult 80 Ace, Yakult LT, Joie, Mil-Mil, and Mil-Mil E are approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare for labeling as Foods for Specified Health Uses.
1999 Yakult 400 fermented milk drink is introduced to the market.
Bifiel, Yakult 400, and Sofuhl are approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare for labeling as Foods for Specified Health Uses.
The cancer prevention efficacy of L. casei strain Shirota is announced at the 58th General Meeting of the Japan Cancer Society.
Kyoto plant receives ISO14001 certification.
*nine Yakult plants, the Yakult's Analysis Laboratory, Nihon Chlorella, six subsidiary plants, and one distribution company have obtained certification as of August 31,2009.
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2000 Bansoreicha is approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare for labeling as Foods for Specified Health Uses.
The company receives an award from the Nihon Shokuryo Shimbun
(Japan Food Stuff Newspaper) for contributions to the development of the food industry during the 20th century.
Fuji Susono Pharmaceuticals Plant expansion completed.
Purela soft yogurt is introduced to the market.
21st century Food and Health Forum is held. (subsequently held annually)
Yakult Swallows win their sixth league championship and fifth Japan Series title.
2002 World's first Automatic Intestinal Flora Analysis System is developed.
Guangzhou Yakult Co., Ltd. begins operations.
2003 Kurozu Drink is introduced to the market.
Cosmetic brand Posh Mama is introduced to the market.
Campto Injection wins the Chairman's Prize from Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation.
Vending machine sales alliance is established with Kirin Beverage.
Yakult (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. begins operations.
2004 New Toughman and Toughman V are introduced to the market.
Entered a strategic alliance with Groupe Danone.
Sales of Yakult are begun in New Zealand.
The Revecy Series, a new foundation cosmetic line, is introduced to the market.
Pretio (Food for Specified Health Uses), a fermented milk drink is introduced to the market.
Shanghai Yakult Co., Ltd. begins operations.
Sales of Yakult are begun in Ireland.
2005 Yakult 300V is introduced to the market.
Research center is established in Europe (Belgium).
Yakult (China) Co., Ltd. is established to oversee operations in China.
Oxaliplatin, a drug for treating malignant tumors, is approved for import and introduced to the market under the name Elplat.
Signed a memorandum of understanding with Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd. and Kirin Beverage Corporation to enter into a business partnership focusing on health and functional foods.
Co-sponsored the FINA World Swimming Championships as an Official FINA Partner.
Decision made to enter the Indian market in alliance with Groupe Danone.
Three types of Bifiene, the new yogurt drink, are introduced to the market.
Beijing Yakult Co., Ltd. begins operations.
Yakult Oesterreich GmbH begins operations.
2006 Sofuhl LCS 100 is introduced to the market.
The name of Yakult's line of beauty products was changed to Yakult Beautiens.
Our new line of basic cosmetics, Uruou Series, is introduced to the market.
The process of acquiring ISO9001 and ISO14001 certification of marketing companies begins (integrated certification).
Our new corporate slogan is decided : Healthier People, a Healthier World.
Shanghai Yakult Marketing Co., Ltd. begins operations.
Yakult 300VLT is introduced to the market.
Yakult Science Research Lab pavilion opened at KidZania Tokyo.
The Yakult Crime and Disaster Prevention Council is established and a memorandum of understanding is concluded with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department regarding crimeprevention.
2007 Yakult Italia S.r.l. begins operations.
Yakult's Bifiene M and Bifiene S are approved for labeling as Foods for Specified Health Uses.
Local representative office of Yakult established in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Yakult Seinyu Tappuri Yogurt (raw milk yogurt) (80g) is introduced to the market.
Yakult Iwate Plant is completed.
Sales of Yakult are begun in California, USA.
2008 Yakult Danone India Pvt. Ltd. begins operations.
Pan-industry social event is held with Toyota Central R&D Labs.of the Toyota group.commercial vehicles for use in the pharmaceutical business.
Advanced Parabio Series base make-up skincare product is introduced to the market.
Shonan Cosmetics Plant is completed. Conducted tour begin.
Yakult Vietnam Co., Ltd. begins operations.
BF-1, a new type fermented dairy beverage containing the bifidobacteria B. Bifidam BF-1 Strain is introduced to the market.
Yakult participates in Team minus 6%, the global warming prevention national movement that the Ministry of the Environment promotes.
Chosei Tonyu Kokusandaizu Shiyo (Recognized as a Food for Specified Health Uses) is introduced to the market.
Yakult SHEs is introduced to the market.
Yakult participates in the Ministry of the Environment's gCO2 Reduction/Light-Down Campaign.h
Yakult 400LT is introduced to the market.
Joie is updated and a new flavor, Shirobudo, is introduced to the market.
Milouge Ca Plus is introduced to the market.
Suplism Series of health foods is introduced to the market.
Revecy gfor Rebirthh is introduced to the market.
Sales of Yakult are begun in the Central American country of Belize.
Yakult receives a 2008 Good Design Long Life Design Award (G-Mark).
Co-sponsored the 15th International Congress of Dietetics (IDC2008).
2009 The anticancer drug Elplat for Injection 50mg is introduced to the market.
Yakult (Thailand) Co., Ltd. builds its second production plant in Ayutthaya.
Yakult USA, Inc. expands its sales network to include the states of Texas and California.
Parabio AC Cream Grand is introduced to the market.
Yakult Calorie Half is introduced to the market.
Rutin Soba-cha is introduced to the market.
Sappari Grapefruit is introduced to the market.
Kuchidoke Seinyuu Yogurt is introduced to the market
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