IDM ¦ Interview
Transition from drinking
to eating
Yili comments on actual business developments
Major Chinese milk processor Yili has ambitious
goals for it business development. IDM spoke
with Dr. Zhanyou Yun, Assistant President of the
Yili Group, about import, growth and economy.
IDM: Yili ranks quite high amongst the world’s top dairy companies.
What exactly can you deduce from a such a ranking position?
Is it just size that matters?
Yun: In 2021, Yili successfully retained its ranking among the Top
5 brands on Rabobank's 2021 Global Dairy list. The ranking allows
Yili to have a clear view of its position in the global context, thereby
generating further motivation for its future development.
Pan Gang, Chairman of Yili Group, said, “We not only seek high
growth in performance, but also the common prosperity of commercial
values and social values.” In the context of the pandemic,
Yili has continued to strengthen its competitiveness throughout
the entire industry chain, including the supply chain, products, and
channels. Behind the scale of growth, Yili adheres to innovation,
strict quality control, and a global network of qualified resources,
while pursuing sustainable development goals and corporate social
values. Yili is committed to becoming one of the most trustworthy
healthy food providers worldwide.
IDM: What are the growth ambitions of Yili, are there any special
categories which Yili wants to grow? And where are the global
focus areas for growth?
Yun: Yili has led the Asian dairy industry for eight consecutive years.
Looking ahead, we will join hands with global partners to facilitate
cooperation throughout the whole industry chain to boost a “global
health ecosystem”. Yili will move steadily towards a higher level of
development.
In the dairy section, Yili’s liquid milk and yogurt have maintained
solid market share, while continually expanding into other
market segments. Products such as Satine A2β-Casein Organic Pure
Milk and Yili ZhenNong High-Calcium Milk were launched to meet
consumers’ diversified needs. For future development, milk pow-
Our overseas markets are mainly in the Asia-Pacific region.
We will gradually develop international markets such as
Southeast Asia and Africa
der, low-temperature liquid milk, and cheese are among the key
fields. We have developed and rolled out several high-end infant
formula milk powder products, such as Jinlingguan ZhenHu, RuiHu,
Seine Mouiller, and Uitstekend Geitenmelk, which are now popular
among consumers. In the non-dairy section, more new plant-based
beverage products under the brand of PLANT SELECTED are in development,
and Inikin Yike Live Fountain natural mineral water is
being produced at full capacity and being sold via both online and
offline channels.
Currently, our overseas markets are mainly in the Asia-Pacific region.
We will gradually develop international markets such as Southeast
Asia and Africa to serve more consumers around the world. By
the end of this year, our factory in Indonesia will be put into operation,
producing dairy products, especially ice cream, to meet large
demand in Southeast Asia.
18 · November/December 2021 ¦ international-dairy.com
/international-dairy.com
