Vitasoy facts for kids
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| Public company | |
| Traded as | SEHK: 345 |
| Industry | Food & Drinks |
| Founded | 3 April 1940 |
| Headquarters |
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Hong Kong
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Key people
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Roberto Guidetti (CEO) |
| Products | plant milk, tofu, beverages |
| Vitasoy International Holdings Limited | |||||||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 維他奶國際集團有限公司 | ||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 维他奶国际集团有限公司 | ||||||||||||
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| Vitasoy | |||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 維他奶 | ||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 维他奶 | ||||||||||||
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Vitasoy (Chinese: 維他奶) is a well-known company from Hong Kong that makes drinks. It also has a popular brand of drinks and desserts called Vita. The company started in 1940. Today, it is part of a bigger group called Vitasoy International Holdings Limited. Its main office is in Tuen Mun, New Territories, Hong Kong.
When Vitasoy first started, its main product was a special soy milk drink. This drink had a lot of protein. Over time, the company began to make many other kinds of drinks. Some of these, like fruit juice, milk, tea, and water, were given the "Vita" brand name. They also make tofu.
In 1991, a company called Vitaland Services Limited was created. This company runs the tuck shops in many primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong. They also manage school canteens. Later, in 2001, "Vitasoy" started "Hong Kong Gourmet." This part of the company provides food services for schools and meetings.
Contents
Vitasoy's Story
The Person Who Started It All
Vitasoy was founded by Dr. Lo Kwee-seong. He started the company on March 9, 1940, in Hong Kong. At first, he delivered soy milk right to people's homes. He chose soy milk because many Chinese people cannot digest regular milk easily. This is called being lactose intolerant.
The company stopped working from 1941 to 1945. This was during the time when Japan occupied Hong Kong. But Vitasoy started up again after the war ended.
How Vitasoy Grew
At first, the soy milk was delivered by bicycle. Soon, Vitasoy started selling its drinks in stores. By 1950, sales were growing fast, so Vitasoy built a new factory. In 1953, they found a way to make the drinks last longer without needing a fridge. This was a big step!
In 1975, Vitasoy was the first company in Hong Kong to use Tetra Pak packaging. This special packaging keeps drinks fresh for months. It uses a process called UHT (ultra-heat treatment). This means the drink is heated very hot and then sealed in special cartons.
Expanding Around the World
Vitasoy began to sell its products in other countries in the 1980s and 1990s. Dr. Lo Kwee-seong's daughter, Yvonne Lo, helped bring their soy milks to the U.S. and Canada.
Vitasoy's first office in North America opened in San Francisco in 1979. Over the years, Vitasoy grew its business in North America. Today, Vitasoy drinks are sold in over 40 countries. Most of their sales come from China, including Hong Kong. They also sell a lot in Australia, Singapore, and the Philippines.
Growing with New Drinks
In 1976, Vitasoy started making juice drinks. Then, in 1978 and 1979, they added lemon tea and chrysanthemum tea to their products.
The company also built new factories in different places. In 1994, they opened a factory in Shenzhen City, China. Four years later, they opened more factories in Shanghai, China, and Ayer, Massachusetts, in the United States. In 2001, a factory opened in Australia. In 2008, Vitasoy bought a company in Singapore that makes tofu. More Vitasoy factories opened in China in 2011 and 2016. You can also find Vitasoy drinks in Europe and the United Kingdom.
What Vitasoy Makes
Vitasoy drinks come in different types of containers. These include paper cartons, plastic bottles, glass bottles, and cans.
Vitasoy makes many kinds of soy drinks and tofu with different tastes. The company also produces other plant milks that are not made from soy.
Besides soy products, Vitasoy offers juices, coffee, teas, and bottled water.
Where Vitasoy Makes Its Products
China/Asia
- Tuen Mun, Hong Kong – This is where the main office and a factory are. They make boxed drinks for Hong Kong and other countries.
- Shenzhen, China – This factory makes products for China and Hong Kong.
- Shanghai, China – This factory also makes products for China and Hong Kong.
- Foshan, China – Another factory for China and Hong Kong.
- Wuhan, China – One more factory for China and Hong Kong.
- Singapore – This factory supplies Singapore and other countries (except Australia/New Zealand/North America).
Oceania
- Wodonga, Victoria, Australia – This factory supplies Australia and New Zealand. It's a joint effort between Vitasoy and another company.
- Melbourne, Australia – Opened in 2001 to supply Australia and New Zealand.
North America
- Toronto – This is the main office for Vitasoy North America Inc. It was set up in 2018.
- Woburn, Massachusetts – This is now the office for the US region.
Want to Learn More?
- List of food companies
- Yeo Hiap Seng
- Flagstaff House Teaware Museum K.S. Lo Gallery – This gallery is named after Vitasoy's founder, who donated many items to the museum.
- Companies of Hong Kong
- Manufacturing in Hong Kong
