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 is a famous drink company from Hong Kong. It makes many different drinks and desserts. The company started way back in 1940. Today, it is known as Vitasoy International Holdings Limited. Its main office is in Tuen Mun, Hong Kong.
Vitasoy first became popular for its special soy milk drink. This drink has lots of protein. Over the years, Vitasoy started making many other kinds of drinks. These include fruit juice, milk, tea, and even water. They also make tofu. Many of these products use the brand name "Vita."
In 1991, Vitasoy started a company called Vitaland Services Limited. This company helps run tuck shops in schools across Hong Kong. They also manage school canteens. Later, in 2001, Vitasoy created "Hong Kong Gourmet." This part of the company provides food services for schools and meetings.
Contents
History of Vitasoy
How Vitasoy Started
Vitasoy was created by a person named 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. Soy milk was a great choice because many Chinese people cannot digest regular milk. This is called lactose intolerance.
The company stopped working from 1941 to 1945. This was during the time when Japan occupied Hong Kong. But after the war ended, Vitasoy started up again.
Growing the Business
At first, soy milk was delivered by bicycle. Soon, Vitasoy started selling its drinks in stores. By 1950, sales were so good that Vitasoy built a new factory. In 1953, they found a way to keep the drinks fresh without needing a refrigerator. 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, which means "ultra-heat treatment." This heats the drink to kill germs, then seals it in a special carton.
Vitasoy Goes Global
In the 1980s and 1990s, Vitasoy began to sell its products in other countries. Lo Kwee-seong's daughter, Yvonne Lo, helped bring Vitasoy drinks to the United States and Canada. The company opened its first office in North America in 1979.
Today, Vitasoy's sales have grown a lot. Most of its sales come from China, including Hong Kong. But you can also find Vitasoy products in Australia, Singapore, and the Philippines. They even export their drinks to more than 40 other countries around the world!
New Products and Factories
Vitasoy started making juice drinks in 1976. They also launched popular drinks like lemon tea and chrysanthemum tea in 1978 and 1979.
To make more products, Vitasoy built new factories. In 1994, they opened a factory in Shenzhen City, China. Later, they opened more factories in Shanghai, China, and Australia. In 2008, Vitasoy bought a company in Singapore that makes tofu. More factories in China, in Foshan and Wuhan, opened in 2011 and 2016.
Vitasoy drinks are now sold in many places. You can find them in supermarkets in the European Union and the United Kingdom.
Vitasoy Products
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. They also create other plant milks that are not made from soy.
Besides soy milk, Vitasoy offers many other drinks. These include fruit juices, coffee, different types of teas, and bottled water.
Vitasoy Locations
Vitasoy has offices and factories in many places around the world.
Locations in China and Asia
- Tuen Mun, Hong Kong: This is where the main office is. They also have a factory here that makes drinks for Hong Kong and other countries.
- Shenzhen, China: This factory makes drinks for mainland China and Hong Kong.
- Shanghai, China: Another factory for Chinese and Hong Kong markets.
- Foshan, China: This factory also serves Chinese and Hong Kong markets.
- Wuhan, China: Another factory for Chinese and Hong Kong markets.
- Singapore: This location supplies products to Singapore and other countries.
Locations in Oceania
- Wodonga, Victoria, Australia: This factory makes products for Australia and New Zealand. Vitasoy works with another company here called Bega Dairy & Drinks.
- Melbourne, Australia: This office opened in 2001 to help supply products to Australia and New Zealand.
Locations in North America
Vitasoy products for North America are now sent from Hong Kong.
- Toronto: This city in Canada is home to the Vitasoy North America Inc. head office, established in 2018.
- Woburn, Massachusetts: This is a regional office for the US market.
See also
- List of food companies
- Yeo Hiap Seng
- Flagstaff House Teaware Museum K.S. Lo Gallery – named for Vitasoy founder and donor of much of the museum's collection
- Companies of Hong Kong
- Manufacturing in Hong Kong
External links
- Vitasoy International
- Vitasoy Hong Kong
- Vitasoy North America
- Vitasoy Philippines
