WINSTON Lo Yau-lai is a man of principle. If the head of Vitasoy were to choose between giving consumers a raw deal, or standing by his beliefs and losing millions of dollars, the businessman would opt for the latter. Unorthodox perhaps, but true.
Last month, when his company received its ninth complaint concerning a foul-taste in the malt and plain soya milk drinks, some 43 million packs of Vitasoy drinks were withdrawn from the market and destroyed.
It was the biggest product recall of its kind in Hong Kong history and the move was costly - $66 million and still rising. But, as Lo maintains, it was the right decision.
'I think critics of my decision looked at the event with an outsider's perspective so they did not have a thorough understanding,' says the chairman and managing director of Vitasoy International Holdings.
'For me, I have to look at the problem and start from basics.' The basics which the 54-year-old refers to are part of the 'Vitasoy mission': to produce and promote high-quality, nutritious and wholesome products that can be purchased anywhere, any time and at a price that everyone can afford.
Lo says this is the philosophy and principle behind the family business and it will not be compromised.
'What we have experienced is a direct challenge to our mission, to the group, its history and the reason why the business was set up in the first place,' he says.
