8 Sep 2009 --- Expanding its footprint in India, Yakult Danone India Ltd. announced its expansion by launching Yakult, a global probiotic health drink in Mumbai. Yakult was launched by Kajol Devgan, the brand ambassador for Yakult along with Mr. Kiyoshi Oike, Managing Director, Yakult Danone India Pvt. Ltd.

Speaking on this significant launch, Mr. Kiyoshi Oike remarked, “After a successful launch in India in 2007, Yakult is available in the cities of Delhi-NCR, Jaipur, Chandigarh and Punjab. The positive response from consumers in these markets has urged us to widen our foothold in the country.”

Yakult encourages healthy living by promoting probiotic products across 32 countries, reaching 28 million people every day. In India too we plan to expand our presence to other metros in the coming years,” he added.

Yakult's unique beneficial bacteria (Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota) reach the intestines alive in sufficient numbers, to suppress the growth of harmful bacteria. Daily consumption of Yakult helps to improve digestion and build immunity. Yakult can be enjoyed by everyone, young or old, as part of a healthy balanced diet every day.

Brand ambassador Kajol said, “I am happy to see Yakult in the Indian market. Yakult is a well known global brand, that promotes healthy living for the family. I myself am a very health conscious person and believe in eating well and staying fit. Given the hectic modern day lifestyle and increased susceptibility to infections, a probiotic drink like Yakult will go a long way in providing us the much needed protection. I trust Yakult and I will definitely include it in my family’s diet.”

Yakult is priced at Rs.50 for a pack of 5 bottles and is available at all leading retail stores across Mumbai. It is manufactured at Yakult’s state of the art facility at Sonepat, Haryana, near Delhi. The production process of Yakult is fully automated from start to finish maintaining stringent quality control conditions which are of International standards.

In 1935, Dr. Minoru Shirota in Japan developed "Yakult", a probiotic drink with 6.5 billion Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota so that he could reach out its health benefits to the people of Japan. He observed that daily intake of this product was beneficial to intestinal health and prevented diseases, thus prolonging an individual’s life span.

Subsequently several studies have shown that Yakult helps to improve digestion and build immunity. In Japan Yakult is recognized as a FOSHU (Food for Specified Health Uses) product, by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Only those foods whose efficacy, and safety have been scientifically validated are given the FOSHU label.