Yakult Europe BV is the regional head office and production facility of the Yakult companies in Europe. The 200 people working at Yakult Europe and the six operating companies throughout Europe are proud to be part of the realization of our founder’s mission “to contributing to the health and happiness of all people around the world” by providing science-based products and conducting sustainable business with care for the environment and the communities we operate in.

In 1991 Yakult decided to go to Europe and specifically to the Netherlands. The choice for the Netherlands was well considered. The most important selection criterion for the European production location in Almere was (and still is) the high drinking water quality. Next to that, The Netherlands is known because of its high dairy technology. And the central geographic position of the Netherlands provides a perfect gateway to the rest of Europe.

On 28 March 1994, the first bottle of Yakult was produced in the European production location in Almere, the Netherlands. Yakult is distributed from Almere to several countries in Europe. Later the factory got new lines to produce Yakult Light and Yakult Plus. At this moment those products are sold in 13 European countries.

A decisive feature in the decision to base Yakult’s European operations in Almere was the availability of ample clean water. The company’s fermentation process requires a stable and guaranteed flow of fresh and unpolluted water.