Yakult is a high quality probiotics in the form of a cultured milk drink.

Yakult contains
the probiotic bacteria "Lactobacillus casei Shirota" (popularly known as the "Shirota
strain"). With over 30 billion live Shirota strain in each bottle, Yakult has among the
highest concentrations of probiotics compared to other probiotic products on the
market (most probiotic drinks and supplements claim to contain at most 1 to 10
billion live probiotic bacteria per serving or per capsule).
The Shirota strain is scientifically proven to be among the 'strongest' strains of
beneficial bacteria, and has been shown to benefit human health.
In Japan, Yakult is acknowledged by the Japanese Ministry of Health as a "Food for
Specified Health Usages" with approved health claim "The Lactobacillus casei
Shirota strain reaches the intestines alive, so this product maintains good health by
increasing beneficial bacteria, decreasing harmful bacteria and improving the
intestinal environment".
Free of preservatives, colourings and stabilizers, Yakult is the right choice for those
looking for high quality probiotics for good health.

1.MixingofRawIngredients
Live Lactobacillus casei Shirota strain is cultured in a 'seed tank' in our laboratory.
Skim milk powder is mixed with sugar, glucose and filtered, sterilised water to make
a
sweet
milky
solution.
2.Sterilisation
The sweet, milky solution is sterilised at a high temperature for a short time,
destroying any bacteria that may be present. The solution is then transferred to a
6,500-litre culture tank via a closed system of pipes and valves.
3.CultureTank
The temperature of the tank is reduced to 37C and live Lactobacillus casei Shirota
strain is added. The solution is allowed to ferment for about one week until the
number of Lactobacillus casei bacteria reaches an ideal concentration.
4.MixingandStorageTank
The concentrate is transferred to a 12,000-litre mixing and storage tank. The tank is
chilled to around 2 C. Sterilised flavours, syrup solution, vitamins and calcium are
added to the concentrate. Prior to bottling, the concentrate is diluted with filtered,
sterile
water.
5.InjectionBlowMouldingMachine
The plastic bottles are produced on site. The bottles are made from polystyrene.
6.BottlingandPackaging
The bottles are wrapped with individual bottle labels. Then, they are filled with Yakult,
capped with a foil lid, sealed and transferred along the conveyor belt to the
packaging facility. Single bottles of Yakult are sorted into groups of five and shrinkwrapped in polypropylene film. Ten "5-packs" are grouped together and wrapped

again in polyethylene film and then heat shrunk, forming a 'carton' of 50 Yakult
bottles.
7.RefrigerationRoom
Finished products are

kept

refrigerated

before

delivery

to

stores.

8.YakultQualityAssurance
Yakult maintains a comprehensive quality assurance program in order to ensure that
our product is of the highest quality. For this reason, samples are collected for
laboratory analysis throughout the production process to confirm that the quality
assurance measures in place have been effective.
Our testing involves more than 150 samples per production run, upon which a total
of more than 200 tests are conducted. These determine Lactobacillus casei
numbers, check for potential contaminants, microbiological quality, composition,
acidity, physical attributes and taste. In addition, each bottle is inspected for
undesirable
markings
and
incorrect
printing.
Quality assurance measures are in place to maintain standards for personnel and
factory hygiene, equipment cleaning, processing methods and parameters, and
product handling. Yakult's quality assurance utilizes a system called "Hazard
Analysis and Critical Control Points" (HACCP). The principles of HACCP are
internationally recognised as an excellent method for assuring stringently high
standards.
9.WasteManagement
Cleaning - Yakult adheres to a comprehensive hygiene and sanitation program,
following a cleaning program that is predominantly governed by CIP (Cleaning in
Place). Steam, an environmentally friendly cleaner, is used to sterilize the pipes and
tanks. A single phase chemical cleaner is used, reducing the numbers of chemicals
introduced into the drains. Chlorine based chemicals are not used.
Solid

wastes

The

amount

of

solid

waste

is

relatively

small.

Liquid wastes - Any liquid waste goes into a holding tank in our water treatment
facility. The acidity (pH) of the water is adjusted with acid or alkaline before being
released into the sewage system.

About Probiotics- The management students discussed and understood in details about usefulness of Bacteria
in the Human physiology along with getting knowledge about the history of developing Probiotics
Patent of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota: To understand more technicalities, students got insights on the
competition Yakult faces from Mother Dairy, Amul and Nestle in the Indian market and their counter
strategies such as Joint Ventures (JV) between Yakult (Japan) and Danoe (France) in India
Investment of Rs 200 Crores made in the Sonepat plant and role of Danoe in the JV in India: To understand
operations and more about JVs, students of PGDM understood the scale of investment in the plant, its
production capacity of 10 lacs bottle per day as compared to the actual production of 2.5 lacs bottles per
day and deliberated on the Case of Underutilisation and how the company is planning ahead

 Emphasis on quality control and use of Cold chain in distribution across India as the bottles are to be kept at
10 degree Celsius was another insight from which students benefitted. Other minute details like short
shelf life of 40 days from the manufacturing date; eventual impact on Reverse Logistics and Marketing
Channels including Retail, Institutional and Home delivery by 230 ladies only were other aspects of
management and operations that were discussed during the visit