Hecto Healthcare's probiotics brand Desimone is entering the fermented milk market for the first time. It is launching a new product, 'Desimone Kids Yogurt Plain', and expanding its portfolio beyond health functional foods into kids snacks, it said on Sunday.

Desimone decided to expand its lineup in line with a growing consumer trend in the kids snack market that places emphasis on raw materials and ingredients. The company said it developed the product based on design know-how built in the domestic premium probiotics market.

The new product contains 93.352 percent domestic Grade 1A milk. It excludes sugar and chemical additives, and is designed so children can also consume probiotics as a snack by applying Desimone probiotics, the company explained. It is made in a pouch form for portability and has also obtained Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points certification.

Hecto Healthcare will also hold offline events to mark the launch. It will run a brand promotion and tasting event at Shinsegae Department Store's Gangnam branch from April 24 to 30, and continue tasting promotions at the Cobe Baby Fair at COEX from April 30 to May 3. The product is available through online channels including the Desimone official store, Naver Brand Store, Coupang and Market Kurly.

A Hecto Healthcare official said the new product is an example of expanding a brand focused on health functional foods into everyday snacks. The official said Desimone applied the principles of its premium probiotics to fermented milk products, offering a differentiated choice for children's snacks, and plans to review various products in the kids snack category going forward.