The Story of Vitasoy 維他奶的故事: From One Man Soy-milk Delivery to Multinational Beverage Giant
Summary
TLDREgg Tarts, a project about Hong Kong culture, covers its history and traditions through short, engaging episodes. The first episode introduces the iconic Vitasoy, a household name in Hong Kong. The story follows founder K.S. Lo, who started the soy milk company in 1940 to combat malnutrition during wartime. Despite initial struggles, Vitasoy grew into a global brand, thanks to innovation and perseverance. Lo's legacy continues today as Vitasoy remains a symbol of Hong Kong culture, beloved by locals and recognized worldwide.
Takeaways
- 🥚 Egg Tarts is a project dedicated to exploring Hong Kong's culture, covering topics from history to modern times.
- 🏙️ The show plans to explore Hong Kong’s evolution, from ancient times to skyscrapers, food, music, and notable figures.
- 🍶 Vitasoy, a household name in Hong Kong, started as a small soy milk delivery service and grew into a multinational company.
- 👨🎓 Vitasoy's founder, Lo Kwee Seong, was inspired by the nutritional value of soybeans during a refugee crisis in 1930s Hong Kong.
- 💡 Lo aimed to provide affordable nutrition to the masses, founding Hong Kong Soya Bean Products Company in 1940 with a mission to make soy milk accessible.
- 💥 Vitasoy faced early struggles due to public perception of soybeans and spoilage issues during hot weather, compounded by war in 1941.
- 🌱 After the war, Vitasoy relaunched with added vitamins and extended its reach through retailers, gaining popularity by the 1950s.
- 📈 The invention of sterilized capped bottles in 1953 improved Vitasoy’s shelf life, leading to a rapid increase in sales across Hong Kong.
- 📦 In 1976, Vitasoy introduced paper cartons, revolutionizing its packaging and reducing costs, leading to a significant recovery and growth.
- 🌍 By the 1980s, Vitasoy had become a symbol of Hong Kong culture, expanding internationally and remaining a staple of the city's identity.
Q & A
What is the purpose of the 'Egg Tarts' project?
-The 'Egg Tarts' project aims to explore and share various aspects of Hong Kong's culture and history, from ancient times to the present day, making the information accessible and enjoyable for listeners.
What are some of the topics that 'Egg Tarts' covers?
-'Egg Tarts' covers a wide range of topics, including ancient artifacts, Hong Kong's skyscrapers, influential figures, street food, and Cantonese pop music.
How did Vitasoy initially begin, and what inspired its founder?
-Vitasoy was founded by Lo Kwee-Seong, who was inspired to create affordable soy milk to help refugees suffering from malnutrition in Hong Kong. He learned about soybeans' nutritional value while working for a company after graduating from the University of Hong Kong.
What was the original mission of Vitasoy when it was founded in 1940?
-The original mission of Vitasoy was to provide a nutritious and affordable milk alternative for the masses, especially targeting low-income individuals with what Lo called 'the poor man’s milk.'
What challenges did Vitasoy face in its early years?
-In its early years, Vitasoy faced financial losses, public perception that soybeans were a food for the lower class, rapid spoilage of the product in hot weather, and disruptions from World War II when Japan invaded Hong Kong.
How did Lo Kwee-Seong continue his soy milk business during the Japanese occupation?
-During the Japanese occupation, Lo moved to Lingshan, where he opened a small café selling soy milk and other products. His café became popular with the locals, allowing him to support his family.
What significant change did Vitasoy make in 1953 that improved its sales?
-In 1953, Vitasoy improved the shelf life of its soy milk by selling it in capped bottles, which helped increase sales by making the product last longer on shelves and reducing spoilage.
How did Vitasoy overcome setbacks during the 1970s, such as the oil crisis?
-In response to setbacks like the oil crisis, Vitasoy adopted innovative packaging, switching to paper cartons in 1976. This reduced costs and made the drinks easier to store and transport, helping the company recover financially.
How did Winston Lo contribute to Vitasoy's recovery and success?
-Winston Lo, the founder’s son, introduced paper cartons to Vitasoy’s packaging, which reduced costs, increased convenience, and helped the company bounce back from financial difficulties. He eventually became the company president in 1978.
How has Vitasoy become a symbol of Hong Kong culture?
-Over the years, Vitasoy has grown into a beloved brand, especially popular among Hong Kongers, and is now widely recognized as a staple beverage. Its association with the city’s history and people has cemented its place as part of Hong Kong's cultural identity.
Outlines
🍮 Introduction to 'Egg Tarts' and the Essence of Hong Kong Culture
The episode begins by introducing 'Egg Tarts,' a project focused on exploring Hong Kong's rich culture. The hosts share their passion for uncovering various facets of Hong Kong, from ancient history to modern-day trends, such as architecture, music, and food. The goal is to offer short, engaging stories that capture the essence of Hong Kong, likened to an egg tart—a small, delightful treat that can be enjoyed during commutes or leisure time.
🥛 The Birth of Vitasoy: Origins of a Hong Kong Icon
The first episode delves into the origins of Vitasoy, a household name in Hong Kong. It recounts how Vitasoy drinks, recognizable in cartons and glass bottles, have become an integral part of Hong Kong's culture since their inception in 1940. The story traces back to 1935 when a young man named Lo Kwee-seong, inspired by the nutritional value of soybeans, began producing soy milk to combat malnutrition among refugees during the war. His efforts led to the creation of the Hong Kong Soya Bean Products Company, with the mission of making affordable, nutritious food for the masses.
💡 Early Struggles: The Challenges of Vitasoy's Initial Years
The early years of Vitasoy were marked by significant challenges. Despite Lo’s efforts to make soy milk a staple for the poor, the initial product failed to gain traction due to high costs, cultural resistance, and spoilage issues in the hot weather. By August 1941, the company faced severe financial losses, and with the onset of World War II, the situation worsened. Lo closed the company to avoid Japanese control during the occupation of Hong Kong, temporarily relocating to Lingshan, where he continued producing soy milk with great success.
📈 Post-War Revival and Innovation at Vitasoy
After World War II, Lo returned to Hong Kong and revived Vitasoy, introducing fortified soy milk with added vitamins. The company improved its distribution strategy, shifting from door-to-door delivery to widespread retail availability. In 1953, the introduction of capped bottles with extended shelf life significantly boosted sales, allowing Vitasoy to penetrate more markets across Hong Kong. The product gained immense popularity, and by the late 1950s, Vitasoy was thriving, introducing new flavors and becoming a major player in Hong Kong's beverage market.
🛠 Innovation Amid Setbacks: Winston Lo and the Paper Carton Revolution
Despite its success in the 1960s, Vitasoy faced several setbacks in the 1970s, including failed ventures and rising production costs due to the oil crisis. In a bid to save the company, Lo's son, Winston, was promoted to vice president and introduced paper carton packaging in 1976, revolutionizing the industry. The carton packaging proved to be cheaper, more convenient, and better for distribution, helping the company recover and return to profitability. Winston's innovations modernized Vitasoy and cemented its place in the market.
🌍 Global Expansion and Cultural Symbolism of Vitasoy
Under the leadership of Winston Lo, Vitasoy continued to grow throughout the 70s and 80s, becoming a cultural symbol in Hong Kong. The company expanded its reach into mainland China, playing a role in China’s economic reforms, and helped local industries develop. Vitasoy drinks became synonymous with Hong Kong culture, evolving from a humble drink for the masses into a beloved brand recognized worldwide. Lo Kwee-seong’s legacy lives on, as Vitasoy remains a key part of the Hong Kong identity, enjoyed by people around the globe.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Vitasoy
💡Soy milk
💡Hong Kong
💡Nutritional value
💡British colony
💡Lo Kwee Seong
💡Malnutrition
💡World War II
💡Paper cartons
💡Hong Kong culture
Highlights
Introduction to the project 'Egg Tarts' that focuses on Hong Kong culture and history, from ancient artifacts to modern skyscrapers.
'Egg Tarts' is designed as short, digestible stories about Hong Kong, perfect for daily commutes or relaxing afternoons.
The episode begins with a discussion about Vitasoy, a household name in Hong Kong, and how it evolved from a small soy milk delivery service into a global brand.
Vitasoy was founded by Qui Seung Lo in 1940, inspired by the need to provide affordable, nutritious food to Hong Kong's poor.
Qui Seung Lo learned about the nutritional value of soybeans from an American ambassador, which led him to produce soy milk for malnourished refugees during the war between China and Japan.
Lo’s first factory opened in Causeway Bay in 1940, with the mission to sell soy milk as the 'poor man’s milk.'
Despite its noble intent, Vitasoy initially struggled with high production costs, social stigma around soybeans, and rapid spoilage in Hong Kong's hot climate.
In December 1941, the Pacific War forced Lo to close his factory, but he continued selling soy milk in mainland China, where it was a success.
After World War II, Lo reopened Vitasoy in Hong Kong and improved the product by adding vitamins and expanding its distribution network.
By 1953, Vitasoy solved its spoilage issue by developing a way to sell the drink in capped bottles, leading to a surge in sales.
In 1976, Vitasoy was the first Hong Kong beverage company to use paper cartons, revolutionizing its packaging, reducing costs, and regaining profitability.
Winston Lo, Qui Seung Lo's son, played a key role in modernizing Vitasoy's packaging and leading the company through tough economic times in the 1970s.
By the 1980s, Vitasoy had become a household name in Hong Kong, symbolizing the city’s identity and cultural heritage.
Vitasoy helped invest in companies in mainland China during its economic liberalization, even assisting competitors like Guaming Dairy Farm.
Qui Seung Lo passed away in 1995, but his legacy lives on through Vitasoy, which remains an essential part of Hong Kong culture and is now a global brand.
Transcripts
hi everyone welcome to the very first
episode of egg tarts
a project about hong kong before we
start
i want to introduce who we are and what
we do here
egg tarts is run by a small group of
people who are passionate about hong
kong culture
we hope to cover different facets of
hong kong from the dawn of mankind to
the present day
from ancient pottery struts in lamin
island to the towering skyscrapers in
central
from business magnates to movie stars
and from street food to cantonese pop
music
by listening to us you will learn many
interesting things about hong kong
we do not limit ourselves to any
specific areas of hong kong
our stories are short and easily
consumed on your daily commute
or chill afternoon just like an egg tart
it's meant to be a small treat from hong
kong anyways
without further ado then let us begin
if you've been to hong kong you might
remember seeing paper
cartons of vitasoy drinks sitting in
every supermarket
and convenience store and the vintage
glass bottle
edition sold warm at 7 11 during winter
time
since friday soil was founded in 1940
the drinks have grown to become
increasingly popular among hong kongers
today every person who grew up in hong
kong knows this household name
and many buy their products regularly
from a one-man soy milk delivery service
to a multinational giant operating in
over 40 countries
how did the company come to be what we
know of today
in this first episode we'll tell you the
legendary story of frida soy
and the man who made it happen the story
begins
in 1935 when hong kong was still a
british colony
a young man named qui seung lo
originally from the guangdong province
just graduated from the university of
hong kong
he soon found work in his patrons
company where he learned about the
nutritional value of soybeans
from an american ambassador two years
later
a war began between china and japan
causing refugees to seek shelter in hong
kong
however these refugees had severe health
conditions
and many were dying due to malnutrition
noticing the worsening situation low
remembered the lesson he had about
soybeans
suddenly he had an idea
the young man went out and bought a
stone grinder some soybeans and sugar
and began teaching the refugees how to
make soy milk to feed themselves
amazingly many of them had significant
improvements in health
convinced of the nutritional value of
soy milk low planned to start a company
so that more people can have access to
it
soon enough in march 1940 the hong kong
soya bean products company
was founded by lo and his friends with
the factory in caseway bay
hong kong island from the beginning
lo wanted the soy milky soul to be the
poor man's milk
in his inauguration speech he said what
is wanted in the colony today is a
source of supply of nutritious food
which is cheap enough to be within the
reach of the masses
the drink was surrounded by the milk
phyta stands for
vitamin and vitality the emphasis of
milk in the name gives an impression
that the drinks
are snorting as milk despite good
intentions the company's initial attempt
was unsuccessful
while the bottle of vitamil cost only 6
cents it was still a hefty price during
those years when many working class hong
kongers
were paid as little as 10 cents a day
furthermore
some people in hong kong think that
soybeans are a food for the lower class
to make things worse friday milk was not
sterilized
causing it to spoil rapidly before being
sold during the hot summer weather
by august 1941 the company reported a
loss of 17
000 hong kong dollars which was half of
the company's initial capital
in the midst of financial difficulties
here comes more challenges for the
company
namely the flames of war in december
1941 the pacific war began and great
britain was officially at war with japan
almost immediately japan invaded hong
kong through mainland china
and took over the city in two weeks time
since lo doesn't want to be ruled by the
japanese he closed the company
and moved to lingshan north of hong kong
originally he planned to be a farmer but
soon noticed that he lacked the know-how
so he went back to what he knew best
making soy milk
low opened a small cafe where he sold
soy milk and other products
surprisingly it was a huge success his
soy milk was very popular with the
locals and
soon he was earning enough to provide
for his family
when the war ended in 1945 lo
immediately returned to hong kong and
reopened his factory
in two months time vita milk was back
this time the drink included added
vitamins
and its health benefits were marketed
rigorously
it was now accessible through various
retailers a lot better than just
door-to-door delivery
with these improvements vitamil gained
widespread acceptance
by 1950 the company had enough money to
build the second factory in aberdeen
also on hong kong island now there's
one more issue that the company was
struggling with shelf life
in 1953 they finally came up with a
solution that would allow them to sell
phyto milk in
capped bottles with the extended shelf
life
phyto milk could now be sold throughout
most of hong kong's populated areas
the drink can finally be kept longer no
matter in store or in people's shelves
after purchase it's probably not hard to
guess that the sales of final milk
instantly skyrocketed
during this blooming time fighter milk
took on a new name
phytosoy a name it kept to this very day
from 1955 to 1960 the sales of phytosoil
grew fivefold from 8.5
million to 42 million bottles as the
company expanded
they started selling warm bottles during
the winter which is still one of the
customer favorites today
new flavors like chocolate and malt were
also introduced
by 1968 frederick made up 25
of the hong kong soft drink market with
an estimated 78 million bottles sold in
the city
despite the successes phytosoil entered
the 1970s
with a series of setbacks first the
company's ventures into pre-cooked
dinners
baby food and cheese all entered in
failure
then in 1973 the oil crisis struck and
production costs were tripled as the
price increases
sales plummeted by 1975
phytosoil lost 20 percent of their sales
compared with 1970
and was on verge of bankruptcy at this
point
the company was desperate for a
reorganization
so lowe downsized it and promoted his
son
winston to be the vice president of the
company
with a master's degree in food science
from cornell winston now begins his
tries to save phytosoy
not long after winston was promoted he
introduced the folding paper carton
in 1976 at that time paper cartons were
unheard of
fidesoy became the first soft drink
company in hong kong to use carton
packaging
doing this has obvious advantages over
glass bottles
the cartons require no refrigeration and
could be kept fresh for months
and they were disposable much more
convenient compared to glass bottles
most importantly the cartons were
lighter harder to break
and more compact to ship this
dramatically reduced distribution costs
soon the newly packaged drinks caught on
with the public's eye
in just a few months fideszoi bounced
back and was earning profits again
seeing his son's success lowe stepped
down as president in 1978
and winston became head of the company
lowe retained the position as board
chairman to have a say in company
operations
phytasoy continued to develop and grow
throughout the 70s and 80s
during this time mainland china was in
the middle of liberalization and
economic opening
because slow wanted to lend a helping
hand to china the company invested in
many chinese companies
ironically one of the companies that
vitasoy helped was guaming dairy farm
which would later dominate the milk
market in hong kong
by the 1980s friday became a household
name
and the soy milk drinks grew into a
symbol of hong kong culture
faraso is no longer seen just as the
poor man's milk
but a brand that many hong kongers grew
up with
today phytosolid drinks can be found in
many places around the world with the
hong kong diaspora
and still remains an essential part of
the city's identity
in 1995 lo passed away at the age of 85.
his legacy the young man who walked door
to door to deliver soy milk
lives on
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