CHINA – Yili Group, one of the leading Chinese dairy companies, has reported a strong 2021 financial year boosted by continued product and technological innovation.
Operating income for the Chinese dairy amounted to ¥ 110.6 billion (US$16.76 billion) in 2021, a year-on-year increase of 14.15 percent.
Net profit attributed to the company totaled ¥ 8.73 billion (US$1.32 billion), a year-on-year increase of 23 percent, according to its 2021 annual report released.
With the results, Yili has become the first dairy company in Asia with an annual operating income exceeding ¥ 100 billion (US$15.13 billion).
According to the 2022 first-quarter report released on the same day, Yili achieved a total operating income of ¥ 31.05 billion (US$4.7billion) in Q1, up 13.47 percent from the previous corresponding period, while net profit was ¥ 3.51 billion (US$530 million), up 24.08 percent.
Boosted by continued product and technological innovation, Yili’s traditional liquid milk and cold drinks last year posted operating income of ¥ 84.91 billion (US$12.85) and ¥ 7.16 billion (US$1.08 billion) respectively, up 11.54 percent and 16.28 percent year-on-year, ranking them first in the Chinese market.
Satine, Ambrosial, Jinlingguan, Chocliz, Gemice, Chang Qing, Meiyitian and Cheese Bars for Kids saw a 3-percentage-point Year-on-Year growth in the market share expanding the scale of Yili’s high-end niche market and maintaining its leading position in market share of high-end products.
Launch of a solid beverage formulated with probiotics and GABA as the key ingredients
Meanwhile, the Yili group has launched a solid beverage known as BL-99 for middle-aged and elderly consumers in the market to serve the growing interest in probiotics for adult and infant health.
” In addition to traditional dairy products, Yili is also exploring new categories and new formats of probiotic-featuring products to satisfy the health needs of middle-aged and elderly people related to digestion, bone health, immunity, and blood pressure control,” Dr. Yun said.
According to Dr. Yun, a solid beverage contains a higher quantity of viable bacteria, which explains the firm’s decision for launching its new product and can be stored easily.
BL-99, which contains Bifidobacterium lactis BL-99, is Yili’s proprietary probiotic strain isolated from the gut of a Chinese healthy infant and has secured a patent in the US.
“Our solid beverage product combines BL-99 and fructo-oligosaccharides alongside the functional ingredients GABA and acerola.
Studies have shown that this strain has positive effects on digestive health, immunity, and bone health, and can use fruto-oligosaccharides to multiply for energy,” he added.
Earlier this year, the company launched an ambient fermented lactobacillus drink containing the proprietary strain Lactobacillus paracasei K56 via the product known as Changyi 100%.
Each bottle contains 10m CFU (Colony Forming Units) of Lactobacillus paracasei K56 – a strain that has received three patents thus far.
The product was developed as a direct response to Chinese consumers’ demands for products that can be stored safely at room temperature.
The product was developed as a direct response to Chinese consumers’ demand for products that can be stored safely at room temperature.
Liked this article? Subscribe to Food Business Africa News, our regular email newsletters with the latest news insights from Africa and the World’s food and agro industry. SUBSCRIBE HERE
