Vitasoy

Vitasoy International Holdings Ltd.

Type	Public company
Industry	Food & Drinks
Founded	1940
Headquarters	Tuen Mun, Hong Kong
Products	Vitasoy beverage
Website	http://www.vitasoy.com

Head office

Vitasoy (simplified Chinese: 维他奶; traditional Chinese: 維他奶; Jyutping: wai4 taa1 naai5); pinyin: Wéitānǎi (SEHK: 0345) is a brand of beverages and desserts in Hong Kong. Founded in 1940, it now operates under the Vitasoy International Holdings Limited. Its headquarters are in Tuen Mun, New Territories.^[1]

"Vitasoy" products were centred on the high-protein soy milk drink that the company first produced. Over the years the company expanded beyond the soy drink products and started to produce a wide variety of beverages. Some of them (such as the fruit juice, milk, tea, soft drink, water, and tofu) were given the derivative brand name "Vita". Besides, it became one of the largest non-carbonated beverages, food manufacture, and seller in Hong Kong.

In addition, "Vitaland Services Limited"^[2] is founded in 1991, it specialises in the operation and management of the tuck shops in Hong Kong primary and secondary schools and the canteen business. "Vitasoy" also established "Hong Kong Gourmet"^[3] in 2001 to provide high-quality catering services to primary and secondary schools, and meetings.

History

Founder

Vitasoy was founded by Dr. Kwee Seong Lo (1910 – 1995)^[4] on March 9, 1940 in Hong Kong with door-to-door delivery of the milk alternative. At that time, many people suffered from poverty and malnutrition due to the higher price of milk, so Dr. Lo wanted to save the children from this blight, but because he realised many Chinese immigrants are lactose intolerant, so he focused on soy milk.^[5] The company ceased operations from 1941 to 1945 during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong. It re-emerged after the war was over.

At first, fresh soya bean milk was delivered to people's homes on bicycle, and later Dr. Lo began selling his product through retail outlets. By 1950, the sales of soya bean milk increased, Vitasoy decided to establish a new factory to meet market demand. In 1953, it adopted the sterilization technology in manufacture of VITASOY soymilk drinks, which enabled the drinks to be stored without refrigeration. In 1975, Vitasoy became the first Hong Kong Company to introduce Tetra Pak packaging technology for drinks production. It involves UHT (ultra-heat treatment) sterilisation of the product and packaging in aseptic cartons, ensures that the drink product can be kept for months without refrigeration. By the late 70's and early 80's, Vitasoy became a well-known household brand and started to expand the overseas markets in the 80s and 90s. Yvonne Lo, the daughter of the Dr. Kwee Seong Lo, introduced Vitasoy's soy milks to the U.S. market in 1979. Today, Vitasoy products are sold in approximately 40 markets around the world, including the Macau, Mainland China, Australia and New Zealand, the U.S., Canada, Europe, Singapore and South East Asia.

In addition, the current CEO of Hong Kong and Macau at Vitasoy International Holdings Ltd is Charles Chyi, Chung,^[6] who's known for his innovative works in the Asia market.^[5]

Development of other brands

In 1976, Vitasoy launched a series of juice drinks, and subsequently launched lemon tea, chrysanthemum tea and other drinks in 1978 and 1979.

In 1994, Vitasoy established a new factory in Shenzhen City as the first Hong Kong foreign plant. Later in 1998, it established new factories in Shanghai and Ayer, Massachusetts in the United States.

In 2001, Vitasoy opened its first manufacturing plant in Australia. In 2008, it acquired Unicurd Food Co. (Private) Ltd., a tofu manufacturing company in Singapore. Vitasoy’s plant in Foshan and Wuhan, Mainland China were opened in 2011 and 2016 respectively. In 2016, Vitasoy divested certain assets of its North American operation. Vitasoy USA continues its sales and distribution of Asian import beverage business in North America.^[7]

Products

Vitasoy beverages are packed in paper packs, PET bottles, glass bottles and cans.

VITASOY Soy drinks come in original, malted, black soyabean, coconut, melon, red bean, coffee, and chocolate flavours. Vitasoy also produces a milk suitable for use in cafes. VITASOY SAN SUI tofu is available in silken tofu, pan-fried hard tofu, hard tofu, dessert tofu, ginger brown sugar dessert tofu, osmanthus dessert tofu.

Vitasoy also offers:

• Juices - Lychee, sugar cane, orange, mango, blackcurrant and guava, pineapple and mango, apple
• Carbonated drinks - cola, Cream Soda, Lemon Lime and Orange
• Yin Hai Jelly Juices - Pineapple, Strawberry and Blueberry
• Vita Supreme Coffee drink
• Teas - Lemon, Honey Chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum, Green Tea, Supericy and Herbal Tea. "Vita Tsing Sum Zhan Teas" are Sugarcane and Imperate, American Ginseng with Honey, Grapefruit Lemon, Mandarin Lemon, Green Apple with Cucumber, Mandarin with aloe and Apple and Jasmine. "Gor Yin Hai Teas" are Apple, Passionfruit, lemon, peach, lychee; Icy Pink grapefruit, lemon and peach. "Vita Cha T Din" are Icy Lemon, Icy Green Tea, Iced Passionfruit, Iced Apple, Iced Mango, Iced Honey Green Tea, Iced Lemon, Iced Peach
• VITASOY SAN SUI Tofu Series - silken tofu, pan-fried hard tofu, hard tofu, dessert tofu, ginger brown sugar dessert tofu, osmanthus dessert tofu
• VITA HK Style milk tea, yuan yang and coffee(Hong Kong)^[8]
• VITA Pure distilled water^[9]

Facilities

• Tuen Mun, Hong Kong - boxed drinks to Hong Kong, North America and Asia
• Shenzhen, China - for Chinese and Hong Kong markets
• Shanghai, China - for Chinese and Hong Kong markets
• Foshan, China - for Chinese and Hong Kong markets
• Ayer, Massachusetts - for North America (United States and Canada)
• Wodonga, Victoria, Australia - supplying to Australia and New Zealand

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

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vitasoy.

• Vitasoy International
• Vitasoy Hong Kong
• Vitasoy USA
• My Vitasoy: Vitasoy USA's Asian Channel

Beverage companies of Hong Kong
Crystal Spring Tea Dairy Farm Kowloon Dairy Mr. Juicy Trappist Vitasoy Watsons Water

Soy (Glycine max)
General	Soy allergy Soy candle Soy ink Soy molasses Soy paint Soy protein Soybean Soybean diseases Soybean meal Soybean oil
Soy-based dishes	List of soy-based foods Aburaage Agedashi tofu Bai ye Douhua Dubu kimchi Edamame Hiyayakko Kongguksu Kongnamul Mapo doufu Miso soup Sundubu jjigae Tahu goreng Tofu skin roll Yong Tau Foo
Plant milk	Soy milk Soy yogurt Vegan cheese
Meat analogues	Beanfeast Tempeh Textured vegetable protein Tofu Tofurkey Vegetarian hot dog Veggie burger
Sauces and condiments	Soy sauce based Ganjang Ponzu Sweet soy sauce Tamari Teriyaki Tsuyu Yìn yóu Pastes Doenjang Doubanjiang Miso Sweet bean sauce Yellow soybean paste Tương Fermented bean Fermented bean curd Douchi Kinema Tauco Nattō
Various other foods	Mamenori Okara Oncom Soy flour Soy milk based infant formula Soy nut Stinky tofu Tofu skin List of fermented soy products
Biochemicals	Phytoestrogens Genistein Genistin Glycitein Ononin Daidzein Equol (metabolite) O-DMA (metabolite) Daidzin (leaves) Globulins (proteins) Beta-conglycinin Gylcinin PHAs (Lectins) Soybean agglutinin (lectin) Enzymes Beta-amylase Lipoxygenase Cysteine proteases Trypsin inhibitors Kunitz inhibitor Bowman-Birk inhibitor Other Soy lecithin (mix of Phospholipids) Lunasin Unsaponifiables Tocopherols Sterols Antinutrients Phytates Protease Inhibitors Cystatins
Companies	8th Continent Alpro Boca Burger Gardenburger Kikkoman Morningstar Farms Plamil Foods Silk So Good Tofutti Vitasoy Yamasa Yeo Hiap Seng
Other	Yuasa, artisan town of historic soy sauce distilleries Kikkoman Soy Sauce Museum