广东人“童年神饮”卖不动，养乐多连关两家厂

Core Viewpoint - Yakult is restructuring its operations in China to enhance competitiveness and achieve sustainable growth, which includes the closure of its Guangzhou No. 1 factory by November 30, 2023, and the transfer of production to other facilities [2][3]. Group 1: Company Restructuring - Yakult's parent company announced the closure of Guangzhou No. 1 factory as part of a restructuring plan aimed at optimizing production and resource utilization [2]. - The Guangzhou No. 1 factory, operational since June 2002, will have its production functions shifted to Guangzhou No. 2 and Foshan factories [3]. - The company is committed to assisting affected employees during this transition, ensuring compliance with legal regulations [4]. Group 2: Sales Performance - Yakult's sales in China have seen a significant decline, with daily average sales dropping from 625.7 million bottles in 2022 to 443.9 million bottles in 2024 [7]. - The Guangzhou subsidiary's daily average sales decreased from 259.6 million bottles in 2022 to 184.6 million bottles [7]. - The decline in sales is attributed to a waning interest in probiotic drinks and increased competition from alternative products [8][9]. Group 3: Market Trends - The market share and average price per hundred milliliters of probiotic drinks have both declined from 2022 to 2024 [11]. - Despite being the market leader, Yakult's market share has decreased alongside competitors like Mengniu and Wahaha [11]. - In response to market changes, Yakult has introduced low-sugar and new flavor products in 2023 to boost sales [11]. Group 4: Future Outlook - Recent adjustments have shown some positive results, with a reported increase in daily average sales to 383.1 million bottles in early 2025, although this remains significantly lower than the 597.4 million bottles in 2019 [11][12]. - The company continues to seek new strategies to navigate the challenges in the probiotic beverage market [12].