hy announced that its Yakult XO, launched in May 2025, has surpassed 40 million units sold in just over a year. After reaching 25 million units in May, the product added another 15 million in just four months, demonstrating rapid growth.
Yakult XO is the first zero-calorie fermented milk product introduced under the Yakult brand by hy. It eliminates sugar, carbohydrates, and fat, reducing calories to just 10 kcal per 100 ml. Despite this, it contains five patented strains and 5 billion CFU of probiotics, ensuring health benefits.
The product's success is attributed to the 'healthy pleasure' trend, which seeks to balance health and taste, along with the technology behind it. As the food industry focuses on reformulating products to reduce sugar and fat, hy has implemented the 'LF-7' method, which consumes the natural sugars in milk through long fermentation. This allows the product to maintain its signature sweet and tangy flavor while keeping sugar and fat at zero.
Collaborations with other brands have also expanded consumer reach. In April, a partnership with coffee franchise MegaMGC Coffee introduced the 'Low-Sugar Honey Pear XO Yakult,' which gained popularity on social media as a 'hangover drink.' Initially planned as a seasonal item, its sales period was extended due to positive consumer response.
Choi Young-taek, head of hy's marketing team, stated, "Since 2014, we have been conducting a 'sugar reduction campaign' to maintain product taste and quality while lowering sugar content. Based on the success of Yakult XO, we will continue to expand our product lineup that balances taste and health."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.