hy, Launch of Spoonable Probiotic 'Pronik'

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] hy (Korea Yakult) announced on the 1st that it has become the first in Korea to receive health functional food (hereinafter referred to as health supplement) approval for a spoonable form of probiotics. This is the second form expansion following the previously launched three types of liquid probiotics. Through this, hy plans to establish the only domestic lineup of 'drinkable and spoonable' probiotics and present a new alternative to the powder-based market.

In line with the probiotic approval, hy launched a new brand called ‘Proniq’. This aims to enhance the competitiveness of the gel-like (糊狀) product and target the growing market. According to an analysis of its own sales data, the spoonable fermented milk market is steadily growing. Last year, the market size was 570.6 billion KRW, an increase of 18.8 billion KRW compared to 551.8 billion KRW in 2018.

The new brand name ‘Proniq’ is a combination of Probiotics and Unique, symbolizing expertise and a premium image.

The brand’s first four products were made by incorporating three patented probiotics from hy. They can help promote the growth of beneficial bacteria, suppress harmful bacteria, and support smooth bowel movements and intestinal health.

Displaying the functionality of probiotics and the health supplement mark on the packaging is also a competitive advantage. Enhancing customer trust can directly lead to increased sales. Sales of the three liquid probiotics also increased by approximately 22.8% year-on-year after certification.

Meanwhile, last year, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety allowed the manufacturing of probiotics in liquid form, which had previously only been possible in dried powder form. This was to revitalize the related market by enabling production in various product forms.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.