Start Operations at Yakult Honsha European Research Center for Microbiology ESV

In May 2005, Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd. (President, Sumiya Hori) established Yakult Honsha European Research Center for Microbiology ESV (YHER) in Ghent, Kingdom of Belgium. It has been involved in setting up equipments for research purposes up to recently. However, now that preparations have been completed, research activities are going to set off.
Presently, preparations have been going on in Europe to institutionalize labeling on functions of foods. To deal with this movement, Yakult has initiated test drinks of its dairy products among local people in Europe. Through the tests, Yakult plans to have much date on the intestinal flora as well as the regulatory action of Europeans’ intestine.
With the start of research activities, Yakult aims at gathering international scientific data, not only in Europe but in the Americas and Asia, in order to expand its business further.
The details of the research facility are as follows.

In addition to the announcement of the start of research activities, please see the attached page for the details on the YHER opening ceremony, which will take place in Belgium on October 12.

Notes

1.  Purpose:
   YHER was established for the following three purposes
   

   (1) Establish a research base in Europe.
   Yakult aims at establishing its position as a leading company in probiotics in Europe, where the concept of probiotics has come.

   (2) Conduct research on European intestinal flora
   In order to gather scientific proof of the efficacy, Yakult plans test drinks of its dairy product (probiotics drinks) among European people. Through the tests, Yakult looks into its efficacy in improvement of intestinal flora and researches on the regulatory action, using its unique technique of intestinal flora analysis.

   (3) Accumulate scientific data to expand international business in future
   Scientific research data will be accumulated for the future business expansion not only in Europe, but also in the Americas and Asia.

2. Contents of Research
   Research on the efficacy of Yakult dairy products (probiotic drinks) to European intestinal flora and the digestive functions with Yakult’s state-of-the-art analysis on intestinal flora.
3. Start of research activities
   October, 2005
4. Staff
   Total: 3 persons (as of the end of August, 2005)
   Two expatriates from Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd., and a local administrative assistant.
5. Research area/equipment
   Facility Floor Space: 250m²
   Main Research Equipments: Set of equipments for experiments related to intestinal flora analysis

For Reference: YHER specifics

1. Location: Technologiepark 4, 9052 Gent-Zwijnaarde, Belgium
2. Official Name: Yakult Honsha European Research Center for Microbiology ESV (YHER)
3. Representative: Masaaki Watanuki (Ph.D), Director, Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd.
4. Established: May 23, 2005
5. Type of Company: Nonprofit corporation
6. Cash contribution: 2.5 million Euros (330 million Yen, with the exchange rate of 1 Euro=135 JPY)

Attachment: YHER Opening Ceremony Guide

Yakult Honsha European Research Center for Microbiology ESV Opening Ceremony

In May 2005, Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd. (President, Sumiya Hori) established Yakult Honsha European Research Center for Microbiology ESV (YHER) in Ghent, Kingdom of Belgium. It has been involved in setting up equipments for research purposes up to recently. However, now that preparations have been completed, a tour of the facilities and an opening ceremony are scheduled to take place. Details are noted below.
Using Yakult’s state-of-the-art analysis on intestinal flora, YHER focuses on the research on the efficacy of Yakult dairy products (probiotic drinks) to European intestinal flora and the digestive functions.

 Notes

1. Event Name: Yakult Honsha European Research Center for Microbiology ESV Opening Ceremony
2. Sponsor: Yakult Honsha European Research Center for Microbiology ESV
3. Date and Time: Wednesday, October 12, 2005; 16:00PM (local time)
4. Place: Het Gravensteen in Ghent, Kingdom of Belgium
   Address: Sint-Veerleplein, 9000 Gent tel:+32 (0) 9 225 93 06
5. Overview: Yakult Honsha European Research Center For Microbiology ESV tour and the Opening Ceremony

Program
16:00: Meet at hotel in central Ghent. Depart for facility.
16:30: Arrive at YHER. Tour in the research facility.
17:30: Leave YHER, return to central Ghent.
19:00: Cocktails served at ceremony venue.
19:30: Opening Ceremony begins.
22:00: Event ends.

Back