广东人“童年神饮”卖不动，养乐多连关两家厂

Core Viewpoint - The Japanese probiotic drink brand Yakult is undergoing a restructuring in China, which includes the closure of its Guangzhou No. 1 factory to enhance competitiveness and achieve sustainable growth in the market [1][2]. Company Summary - Yakult's parent company announced on October 20 that it will close the Guangzhou No. 1 factory, with production being transferred to the Guangzhou No. 2 factory and the Foshan factory. The closure is scheduled for November 30 [1]. - Guangzhou Yili Dairy Co., established in 2001, has a registered capital of approximately 396 million yuan and operates three factories in total [1]. - The Guangzhou No. 1 factory, which began operations in June 2002, has a total area of 9,457.91 square meters [1]. Industry Summary - Yakult's sales in China have been declining sharply, with daily average sales dropping from 625.7 million bottles in 2022 to 443.9 million bottles in 2024 [6]. - The decline in sales is attributed to a decrease in consumer trust in the benefits of probiotics and the emergence of alternative products such as low-temperature yogurt and plum juice [6][8]. - Despite being the market leader in the probiotic drink category, Yakult's market share has been decreasing alongside competitors like Mengniu and Wahaha [8]. - In response to market changes, Yakult has introduced low-sugar products and new flavors since 2023, and recent adjustments have shown some improvement, with daily average sales increasing by 3.9% in early 2025 compared to the previous year [8].