On March 2, Guangzhou Yakult Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Guangzhou Yakult”) announced the official launch of the Ikute skincare line, further expanding the company’s business portfolio.
Public information shows that Guangzhou Yakult was established in 2001, with 50% of its shares held by Japan’s Yakult Group and 10% by Yakult (China) Investment Co., Ltd. The company primarily engages in the production and sale of probiotic dairy beverages. The newly launched skincare line centers on a probiotic skincare concept, emphasizing multiple gentle formulation standards. Its initial product range includes cleansing foam, makeup remover, toner, and emulsion, among other skincare items.
According to public reports, Ikute is a skincare brand under the Yakult Group. In July 2020, it entered the Chinese market via the Yakult overseas flagship store on Tmall Global as part of Yakult’s cosmetics business. At the time, a representative from Yakult’s Guangzhou headquarters stated that the cosmetics business was handled by the overseas headquarters’ agency department and operated through a Shanghai-based distributor, with the Chinese entity not involved in the production or sale of Yakult cosmetics.
Notably, in December last year, the Yakult overseas flagship store for its cosmetics business on Tmall Global announced a temporary suspension of operations. Currently, Yakult’s cosmetics business maintains a presence on Xiaohongshu (RED), but the account is used only for sharing brand updates and product concepts, without enabling direct sales. Meanwhile, platforms such as JD.com and Douyin continue to focus solely on the sale of Yakult beverage products.
This suggests that Guangzhou Yakult’s official launch of the Ikute skincare line may represent a new strategic move by the Yakult Group in restructuring its cosmetics business, marking a new phase for Ikute’s development in the Chinese market
