Kirin Beverage to Enhance Small PET Bottle Production at Shiga Plant: Strengthening Health-Supporting Infrastructure with 10-Billion-Yen Investment
Kirin Beverage will invest approximately 10 billion yen to install new 100ml PET bottle production lines at its Shiga Plant by July 2028. This move aims to increase capacity by 20% and ensure a stable supply of immune care beverages.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 29, 2026 at 02:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 28, 2026 at 17:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 17:55 (23 min after Collected)
Kirin Beverage Co., Ltd. (President Kazuhiro Inoue) will increase the manufacturing equipment for small PET bottles at the Kirin Beverage Shiga Plant (Plant Manager Kiichiro Yamagishi) and newly begin production of 100ml PET bottle beverages. The new equipment is scheduled to start operations in July 2028, expanding the annual production capacity of the entire Shiga Plant by approximately 20% compared to the current level, and preparing a supply system for the further growth of 100ml PET bottle beverages such as "Kirin Oishii Men-eki Care."
The Kirin Group has formulated its long-term management vision "Innovate 2035!" aiming to be a CSV (Creating Shared Value) leading company that continues to create innovation through the power of people and technology to make the world more energetic. In the soft drink business, health science beverages, including Plasma Lactococcus lactis, are positioned as a growth pillar. In particular, the sales volume of the "Kirin Oishii Men-eki Care" series grew significantly in 2025, increasing by about 30% year-on-year, and sales volume from January to March 2026 has also been trending higher than the previous year. In March, the company also launched "Kirin Tsuyoizo! Mutekids," a 100ml PET bottle health drink for children containing Plasma Lactococcus lactis, nationwide. This investment is positioned as a strengthening of the important manufacturing foundation that supports the further growth of 100ml PET bottle beverages toward the realization of being a health science leading company.
The production of 100ml PET bottle beverages will be handled at two bases, the Shonan Plant and the Shiga Plant, covering Eastern and Western Japan. This will not only achieve a stable supply accompanying sales expansion but also improve logistics efficiency and reduce GHG emissions, while promoting the strengthening of the Business Continuity Plan (BCP) for stable business continuation. The newly introduced manufacturing equipment will also contribute to reducing the burden of simple or heavy-lifting tasks and improving the working environment, including heat countermeasures, through the introduction of automation. By effectively utilizing existing equipment and buildings, the design increases investment efficiency while allowing for flexible responses to future technological innovations and labor-saving.
Kirin Beverage will deliver delicious health to customers' daily lives through the sale of beverages containing "Plasma Lactococcus lactis," including the "Oishii Men-eki Care" series.
Details of the enhancement of small PET bottle manufacturing equipment:
1. Start of operation: July 2028 (Scheduled)
2. Location: Kirin Beverage Shiga Plant (1600 Binmanji, Taga-cho, Inukami-gun, Shiga Prefecture)
3. Investment amount: Approximately 10 billion yen
4. Target products: Small PET bottle beverages
Features of the new manufacturing equipment:
- Introduction of equipment capable of manufacturing 100ml beverages in preparation for increased sales volume.
- Improvement of the production capacity of the line, expanding the Shiga Plant's total annual capacity by about 20%.
- Realization of an employee-friendly working environment through automation of simple and heavy tasks and heat countermeasures.
The Kirin Group will spread new joys of "food and health" through manufacturing that focuses on nature and people, contributing to the realization of a spiritually wealthy society.
The Kirin Group has formulated its long-term management vision "Innovate 2035!" aiming to be a CSV (Creating Shared Value) leading company that continues to create innovation through the power of people and technology to make the world more energetic. In the soft drink business, health science beverages, including Plasma Lactococcus lactis, are positioned as a growth pillar. In particular, the sales volume of the "Kirin Oishii Men-eki Care" series grew significantly in 2025, increasing by about 30% year-on-year, and sales volume from January to March 2026 has also been trending higher than the previous year. In March, the company also launched "Kirin Tsuyoizo! Mutekids," a 100ml PET bottle health drink for children containing Plasma Lactococcus lactis, nationwide. This investment is positioned as a strengthening of the important manufacturing foundation that supports the further growth of 100ml PET bottle beverages toward the realization of being a health science leading company.
The production of 100ml PET bottle beverages will be handled at two bases, the Shonan Plant and the Shiga Plant, covering Eastern and Western Japan. This will not only achieve a stable supply accompanying sales expansion but also improve logistics efficiency and reduce GHG emissions, while promoting the strengthening of the Business Continuity Plan (BCP) for stable business continuation. The newly introduced manufacturing equipment will also contribute to reducing the burden of simple or heavy-lifting tasks and improving the working environment, including heat countermeasures, through the introduction of automation. By effectively utilizing existing equipment and buildings, the design increases investment efficiency while allowing for flexible responses to future technological innovations and labor-saving.
Kirin Beverage will deliver delicious health to customers' daily lives through the sale of beverages containing "Plasma Lactococcus lactis," including the "Oishii Men-eki Care" series.
Details of the enhancement of small PET bottle manufacturing equipment:
1. Start of operation: July 2028 (Scheduled)
2. Location: Kirin Beverage Shiga Plant (1600 Binmanji, Taga-cho, Inukami-gun, Shiga Prefecture)
3. Investment amount: Approximately 10 billion yen
4. Target products: Small PET bottle beverages
Features of the new manufacturing equipment:
- Introduction of equipment capable of manufacturing 100ml beverages in preparation for increased sales volume.
- Improvement of the production capacity of the line, expanding the Shiga Plant's total annual capacity by about 20%.
- Realization of an employee-friendly working environment through automation of simple and heavy tasks and heat countermeasures.
The Kirin Group will spread new joys of "food and health" through manufacturing that focuses on nature and people, contributing to the realization of a spiritually wealthy society.