DUOLAC Ranks No.1 in Denmark, Securing 46.6% Market Share

Amid a surge in probiotic products in Korea made with imported Danish strains, it has been revealed that the No.1 probiotic brand in Denmark itself is Korea’s DUOLAC.

Cell Biotech announced that its premium probiotic brand DUOLAC has ranked No.1 in market share in Denmark, widely regarded as the “home of probiotics,” demonstrating the global competitiveness of K-probiotics. According to data released in January 2026 by Danish healthcare market research firm DLIMI, DUOLAC recorded a 46.6% share in the Danish pharmacy channel, securing the top position. This marks a symbolic achievement that reshapes the local market landscape, as DUOLAC has surpassed Lactocare, a long-standing No.1 domestic brand since tracking began.

Denmark is home to globally renowned probiotic companies such as Chr. Hansen and is widely considered the birthplace of the probiotics industry. With a history of commercialization dating back approximately 150 years, the country boasts strong technological capabilities and industrial infrastructure, making it a highly competitive market among global players. In Denmark, it is common for consumers to purchase probiotics through pharmacies after consulting healthcare professionals, making pharmacy channel share a key indicator of product competitiveness.

In this highly competitive pharmacy market, DUOLAC has risen to No.1 by surpassing Lactocare, which had maintained the top position for years. This achievement is regarded as particularly meaningful and monumental, as a Korean probiotic brand has outperformed local brands in a country long recognized as the origin of probiotics.

DUOLAC’s success in Denmark is attributed to its proprietary Dual Coating technology and the strong survivability of Korean-origin probiotics. Dual Coating is a fourth-generation coating technology, first developed globally by Cell Biotech, in which probiotics are coated first with protein and then with polysaccharides. This structure remains intact in the stomach and dissolves in the intestines, ensuring stable delivery of probiotics by protecting them from heat, moisture, and gastric acid.

By applying Dual Coating technology to all its products, DUOLAC has achieved a probiotic survival rate of up to 91.6%, and clinical studies have confirmed up to 221 times higher intestinal survivability compared to non-coated probiotics. This technology has been patented in major markets including Korea, Japan, China, Europe, and the United States, and is recognized as a key competitive advantage that has driven DUOLAC to No.1 in Denmark.

In addition, K-probiotics, originating from Korea’s diet rich in vegetables, grains, and spices, are known for their strong survivability developed through adaptation to such environments. A study published in the Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition found that while imported probiotics tend to be inactivated when exposed to spices, Korean-origin strains demonstrate higher growth rates.

Based on these strengths, Cell Biotech has been exporting K-probiotics to Denmark since 2003 and launched its DUOLAC brand in the local market in 2014. The company also established a local subsidiary in Denmark—the first among Korean companies—using it as a strategic hub for expanding into the European market.

A company representative stated, “DUOLAC achieving No.1 market share in Denmark, where probiotic research spans over 150 years, signifies that both local pharmacists and consumers recognize our technology and quality. It is a symbolic achievement comparable to a European company ranking No.1 in Korea’s kimchi market—an accomplishment driven by overwhelming technological competitiveness and effective localization strategies.”

The representative added, “Following the global rise of K-food and K-beauty, this serves as a meaningful example of the growth potential of a new category, K-probiotics. We will continue to expand our presence in the global market by leveraging the excellence of DUOLAC and its 221-times-strong probiotics.”

DUOLAC is a premium probiotic brand of Cell Biotech, a microbiome company that has exclusively researched 100% Korean-origin probiotics for 31 years. Cell Biotech became the fifth company in the world to achieve mass production of probiotics, laying the foundation for Korea’s probiotic industry. The company currently exports K-probiotics to 55 countries worldwide and has ranked No.1 in Korea’s probiotic exports for 12 consecutive years since 2013.

※ Market Share in the Danish Pharmacy Channel (Probiotics Category)

Rank	Company	Brand	Market Share
1	Cell Biotech	DUOLAC	46.6%
2	Karo Pharma AS	Lactocare	33.9%
3	Icepharma A/S	Värn	11.6%
4	Biosym A/S	Biosym	3.6%
5	Apotekernes A.m.b.a	Apotekets	2.2%

* January, 2026, value month share(%), probiotics category, pharmacy, DLiMi Data