Australian probiotic yoghurt brand Hey Yogurt is planning to launch 100 outlets in Malaysia this year following its Nasdaq listing in February.

The brand – which combines Australian yellow peaches with grain and yogurt and is marketed as a low-sugar, low-fat health food – has been operating in Singapore since January, where it has already achieved sales of more than 1000 cups per day.

Hey Yogurt is already preparing its first stores in Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Johor Bahru.

The popularity of the drink during an economic downturn brought about by the coronavirus epidemic may be related to recent findings that the Lactobacillus bacteria found in yoghurt has positive benefits for the immune system when blended with probiotics, according to a German study cited by the brand.