English

Global Layout

Corporate Description
2000 +
Yili's global partners
15
Yili's R&D and innovation centers around the world
81
Yili's production bases around the world
Yili has now put into place a network comprising a global resource system, a global innovation system and a global market system in regions where the dairy industry is well developed. These regions include Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania. Yili has over 2,000 partners distributed in 39 countries across six continents. The company owns 15 R&D and innovation centers and 81 production bases. Its liquid milk, milk powder, yogurt, cheese and ice cream are on the market in more than 60 countries and regions.
In pursuing international development, Yili follows a philosophy of mutual development, and actively collaborates with global partners on friendly terms through "global mindsets and local operations". Besides, Yili takes the initiative to get involved in local communities, discovers and trains local talents, proactively fulfils its social responsibilities, promotes local economic growth and prosperity, and shares its development gains with partners.
Integrate the Best Global Resources
Bringing Together Global Innovative Minds
Serving Global Consumers
Awards
The global resource system is an important support for the development of enterprise globalization. Yili has carried out extensive layout along the global golden milk source belt, and has carried out forward-looking integration in Asia, Europe, Oceania, America and other regions, continued to strengthen international cooperation in milk source construction, and constantly enriched milk supply system. At present, Yili has built 81 production bases around the world.
Milestone
May 2023
On May 23, Yili’s subsidiary Westland Milk Products held a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of its NZD 70 million (RMB 302 million) lactoferrin plant at Hokitika, New Zealand. The investment will enable Yili to rank amongst the top three leading global companies in the lactoferrin category.
July 19, 2022
On July 19, 2022, a ceremony was held at Yili Group’s Westland Milk Products in Hokitika, New Zealand, to celebrate the upgrading of the plant and the opening of Westgold Butter’s new production line. The new production line will enable Wesgold to double its production of high-quality grass-fed butter to 42,000 tons per year, making it the biggest butter factory on the west coast of New Zealand and the biggest butter factory built by a Chinese dairy company overseas.
December 10, 2021
On December 10, 2021, the first phase of Yili Indonesia Dairy Production Base – Yili’s first self-built factory in Southeast Asia – was completed and began production, marking another milestone of Yili’s Global Network. The first phase involved a total investment of RMB 867 million. Upon the completion of its second phase, the production base is projected to have a daily production capacity of 4 million ice cream products, which will make it Indonesia’s largest ice cream factory and the biggest production base that a Chinese dairy company has ever invested in across Southeast Asia.
August 1, 2019
On August 1, 2019, Yili announced that it had completed the purchase of 100% of the shares in New Zealand's second largest dairy manufacturer Westland Co-Operative Dairy Company Limited (“Westland” for short) through its wholly owned subsidiary Jingang Trade Holding Limited. A ceremony to celebrate the closing of the deal was held the same day in Auckland, New Zealand. The successful acquisition of Westland represented a positive step in building a dairy Silk Road across the Pacific Ocean. This will further reinforce the collaboration between Yili and New Zealand's dairy industry, and boost win-win collaboration across the global dairy industry.
November 29, 2018
On November 29, 2018, Yili acquired Chomthana, Thailand's largest ice cream producer.
March 25, 2017
On March 25, 2017, Yili marked the opening of its Oceania Dairy Production Base Stage II Project in Auckland, New Zealand. This project is seen as a signature project to enhance economic and trade cooperation between China and New Zealand. Located in the area reserved during Stage I in Waimate, South Canterbury, on the South Island, this project was construction mainly for deep processing of milk containing functional milk proteins, ultra-high temperature (UHT) liquid milk processing, whole milk powder production, and infant formula packaging.
November 21, 2014
On November 21, 2014, Yili Oceania Dairy Production Base was inaugurated, representing one of the largest integrated dairy production bases across the globe. Its coverage of multiple areas, including research, production, deep processing and packaging, and the total investment amounting to RMB 3 billion set a record of investment scale during the collaboration between China and New Zealand. At the same time, Yili also signed a strategic partnership agreement with Lincoln University, the sole university specializing in agriculture and food in the Southern Hemisphere.
2013
In 2013, Yili collaborated with Uruguay's largest dairy company, Conaprole.
April 2013
In April 2013, Yili launched the New Zealand Infant Formula Milk Powder Project.
Yili's Indonesia Dairy Production Base
The ceremony of the acquisition of Westland by Yili
Yili acquired Chomthana, Thailand's largest ice cream producer
Yili's Oceania Production Base
Yili has harnessed global innovation, talent, and other resources to create the "Global Wisdom Chain." This network spans multiple regions, including Asia, Europe, Oceania, and America. By conducting in-depth research in key areas such as nutrition and health, product development, food safety, and breast milk research, Yili has laid a solid foundation for developing health products that cater to the needs of all age groups, life cycles, and consumer scenarios. Currently, Yili has built fifteen innovation centers around the world.
Milestone
December 2023
On December 17, 2023, the National Dairy Industry Technology Innovation Center spearheaded by the Yili Group was officially put into physical operation.
December 10, 2021
On December 10, 2021, the first phase of Yili Indonesia Dairy was officially completed and production was launched. With the aim of providing better service to local consumers, Yili Group has adopted a unique business model – focused on empowering the local headquarters, leveraging global collaborations, and ensuring a high degree of localization – to support the development of the Yili Southeast Asia Innovation Center, which is affiliated to Yili Indonesia Dairy. As a platform designed to facilitate cooperation on innovation with universities and R&D institutions throughout the region, the Yili Southeast Asia Innovation Center will work with Yili Group’s China Innovation Center, European Innovation Center, Oceania Innovation Center, and Japan Innovation Center to roll out more localized innovations that are carefully tailored to fulfill consumer needs.
June 21, 2021
On June 21,2021, Yili signed an agreement to partner up with StartLife, a specialized investor based in the Netherlands, inthe field of food and agrotechnology. Yili is also joining the Open Innovation Forum, an industry network for food and FMCG companies at the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM), which is part of the University of Cambridge. Through building this wider innovation ecosystem, Yili will enhance collaborations across Europe to work on the challenges faced in the food and agricultural sectors to deliver healthy solutions to consumers.
September 12, 2018
On September 12, 2018, Yili European R&D Centre was official upgraded as Yili European Innovation Centre. The inauguration ceremony of the Cooperative Laboratory of Yili and Wageningen University took place at the same time. Yili European Innovation Centre is an important part of Yili Global Net Strategy. By virtue of Yili European Innovation Centre, Yili together with over 15,000 researchers of European "Food Valley" conducted innovative cooperation with universities and colleges, scientific research institutions and partners such as International Life Sciences Institute, Medical Center of University of Groningen, Technical University of Munich, German Institute of Food Technology, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine of Ireland. The Centre will further carry out researches on life science, nutrition and health, food safety and technology research and development in a bid to achieve a full coverage of all latest cutting-edge technologies in the health and food fields.
2018
In 2018, Yili was the first in the global food industry to apply Quality by Design (QbD) for quality control in its R&D process, which has provided more accuracy and control around ensuring product quality.
June 2017
In June 2017, the "EU-China-Safe" Food Safety Program was co-sponsored by Queen's University Belfast, the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) in the UK, the Wageningen Food Safety Research, the China National Centre for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA), and Yili. In this program, Yili, the sole Chinese dairy company in the program, will mainly study data visualization, the application of food authenticity analysis technologies, the application and conversion of food contamination testing technologies, and building up the confidence of consumers.
March 2015
In March 2015, Yili joined with Wageningen University to create a food safety early warning system across the industry ecosystem.
November 2014
In November 2014, Yili established its Innovation Centre Oceania in New Zealand, and entered a strategic partnership with Lincoln University, to engage in innovation and research across the entire ecosystem of the dairy industry. The two parties prioritized dairy technology innovation, quality, and safety in this collaboration. Specifically, the innovation centre will mainly study and develop cutting-edge technologies for cow farming, farm management, value-added dairy products and ingredients of raw milk, milk and food as well as quality and safety. In recent years, Yili Innovation Centre Oceania has established sound partnerships with the New Zealand Food Safety Science & Research Centre (NZFSSRC), AgResearch, and the University of Otago.
August 11, 2014
In November 2014, Yili established its Innovation Centre Oceania in New Zealand, and entered a strategic partnership with Lincoln University, to engage in innovation and research across the entire ecosystem of the dairy industry. The two parties prioritized dairy technology innovation, quality, and safety in this collaboration. Specifically, the innovation centre will mainly study and develop cutting-edge technologies for cow farming, farm management, value-added dairy products and ingredients of raw milk, milk and food as well as quality and safety. In recent years, Yili Innovation Centre Oceania has established sound partnerships with the New Zealand Food Safety Science & Research Centre (NZFSSRC), AgResearch, and the University of Otago.
February 2014
In February 2014, Yili established its European R&D Centre in the Netherlands. The Centre is seated in Wageningen University, Europe's top university in the field of life sciences. Yili has carried out innovation cooperation with more than 15,000 researchers at Europe's "Food Valley", the International Life Sciences Institute, the University Medical Center Groningen, the Technical University of Munich, the German Institute of Food Technology, Teagasc, and other universities and scientific research institutions, as well as partners. These researches cover life sciences, nutrition and health, food safety, and technology R&D to realize all-round exploration of the latest cutting-edge technology in the field of healthcare food.
Yili European R&D Center was upgraded to the Yili Innovation Center Europe.
Experts at the Yili Innovation Center Europe
Yili secured a partnership with StartLife in food and agriculture technology.
The staff of the Yili Southeast Asia Innovation Center
To fulfill its goal of becoming the world's most trusted provider of health foods and serving global consumers, Yili is stepping up its expansion into international markets. Yili's products are available in over 60 countries and regions worldwide.
Milestone
December 2023
On December 2023, Yili's ice cream brand Joyday was launched in Dar es Salaam, the largest city in Tanzania. Yili became the only Chinese dairy company to enter the Tanzanian market.
October 3, 2022
On October 3, 2022, New Zealand’s Westland Milk Products, a subsidiary of Yili Group, struck a deal to acquire Canary Foods based in New Zealand, further expanding its butter market share across the world.
March 3, 2022
On March 3, 2022, Yili completed its takeover of Ausnutria. This acquisition further strengthens the collaboration between the two companies in key areas such as global business layout, supply chain management, and channel construction.
September 2019
In September 2019, Yili held a product release in Singapore to roll out its high-end yogurt brand AMBPOMIAL Greek yogurt in Southeast Asia.
November 30, 2018
On November 30, 2018, Yili entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with Chomthana, the largest local ice cream producer in Thailand. On April 25, 2019, the formal acquisition was wrapped up. Chomthana has over 40 years of industry experience in Thailand. It had been performing well in Thailand and 14 overseas markets and highly appreciated by local consumers.
October 23, 2018
On October 23, 2018, Yili held a ceremony in Jakarta, Indonesia, for the global launch of Joyday ice cream brand. This marked the company's entry into the Southeast Asia market, including Indonesia.
Yili's strategic investment in Austria
Yili's Ambpomial is available in Singapore
Yili's Joyday ice cream is now available in Jakarta, Indonesia
By consistently prioritizing cooperation and mutual benefit and promoting and sharing value, Yili has gained widespread recognition in the international community. In Indonesia, the company was awarded the "Special Achievement Award for Corporate Social Responsibility" the "Outstanding Contribution to Revitalizing the Economy Award," and the "Best Brand Choice Award" for two consecutive years as the only Chinese-funded enterprise in the area to receive. In Thailand, Yili received the "FDA Quality Award" and the "Outstanding Unit for Labor Relations and Welfare" for many consecutive years and was the only Chinese-funded enterprise in the area to receive such recognition. In New Zealand, the company was awarded the "Best Safety Workplace Award," "Best Popularity Choice Award," and "New China Trans-border Investment Award."
Milestone
November 2023
In November 2023, a Thailand-based subsidiary of Yili Group, was awarded the “2023 Excellent Practices Establishment on Labour Relations and Welfare National Level” by the Ministry of Labour of Thailand for the third consecutive year. At the ceremony, the Pathum Thani Provincial Industry Office also awarded Yili “The 2023 Excellence Award for Occupational Health” and “The 2023 Excellence Award for Safety”.
October 2023
On October 27, 2023, the 7th Ram Charan Management Practice Award, hosted by the Chinese edition of Harvard Business Review, officially announced the winners. Yili Group, with its case study of “Yili Group’s Internationalization Strategy and Specific Practices”, stood out among hundreds of participating enterprises and won the Ram Charan Management Practice Award - Outstanding Award.
July 2023
On July 12, the Food and Drug Administration of the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand officially announced the list of winners of its Quality Award 2023. Yili's Thai subsidiary won the Best of the Best Thai FDA Quality Award for its superb quality management. This was Yili’s first Best of the Best Award after winning the Thai FDA Quality Award for three consecutive years, and Yili was the only food enterprise to win it – the highest award of the Thai FDA Quality Award this year.
December 2022
On December 22, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health announced the winners of the 2022 FDA Quality Award. Chomthana, a Thai subsidiary of Yili, received the award for a third consecutive year for its leading quality control capabilities.
November 12, 2022
On November 12, 2022, Chomthana, a Thailand-based subsidiary of Yili Group, was awarded the “2022 Excellent Practices Establishment on Labour Relations and Welfare National Level” by the Ministry of Labour of Thailand for the second consecutive year.
29 June 2022
On 29 June 2022, the 2022 Bisnis Indonesia Corporate Social Responsibility Awards (BISRA) ceremony was held in Jakarta. Yili won a Special Award and was recognized as “The Most Collaborative Food and Beverage Company in Accelerating Vaccination & Covid-19 Response”. It was also the only Chinese company in Indonesia to receive this award at the BISRA 2022.
December 2021
In December 2021, a signing ceremony was held for collaborations under Indonesia’s National Economic Recovery program hosted by Indonesia's Ministry of Investment, or BKPM, in Bali. The Minister of Investment, Bahlil Lahadalia, issued a certificate of commendation to Yili Group for its exceptional contribution to Indonesia’s economic recovery during the pandemic. Yili was invited to the event as the top dairy company in Asia and was the only Chinese company invited.
June 29, 2021
On June 29, 2021, Chomthana, the Thai subsidiary of Yili and Thailand’s largest ice cream producer, received the Labor Management and Welfare Excellence Award 2021 from the Department of Labor Protection and Welfare in Thailand’s Ministry of Labor. The award aims to honor enterprises that are dedicated to establishing law-based, harmonious labor relations with employees, improving the workplace and employees’ welfare, and building smooth mechanisms for communication with labor unions and welfare committees. Chomathana is the only winner of the award among all China-invested enterprises headquartered in Thailand, and it is Chomthana’s second national-level award after receiving the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Quality Award from Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health.
June 2020
In June 2020, the Thai FDA of the Ministry of Public Health officially announced the winners of 2020 FDA Quality Award. Chomthana, the largest local ice cream producer in Thailand and a subsidiary of Yili, received this award for its excellence in quality control. The granting of this award proves that since the acquisition by Yili, Chomthana has accomplished healthy development across the board and been widely recognized in Thailand. It also further highlights Yili's exceptional ability to operate globally.
September 2019
In September 2019, Oceania Dairy was granted the "Double Awards" by the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, including the "ACC Great Workplace Award" and the "Best People's Choice Award".
June 8, 2019
On June 8, 2019, the award ceremony for the biennial HSBC New Zealand China Trade Association China Business Awards was kicked off in Auckland. Oceania Dairy Limited (ODL) received an award for investment between China and New Zealand, representing ODL’s first international award.
Yili won the "Award for Investment between China and NZ" during the "China Commercial Business Award".
Chomthana, the Thai subsidiary of Yili and Thailand’s largest ice cream producer, received the Labor Management and Welfare Excellence Award 2021 from the Department of Labor Protection and Welfare in Thailand’s Ministry of Labor.
Yili was awarded the 2022 Indonesia Corporate Social Responsibility Awards (BISRA)