Alibaba Buys Stake In Luxury Online Store Mei.com July 8, 2015: 12:00 AM EST Alibaba Group Holding invested more than $100 million in Shanghai-based luxury online shopping company Mei.com. Part of Alibaba's efforts to expand its luxury business, the move will see Mei.com complementing the Chinese e-commerce giant's current selection of affordable luxury products for local consumers. Also, the move supports Alibaba's efforts to expand the luxury offerings of its online store Tmall.com. Juro Osawa, "Alibaba invests $100 mln in luxury-focused Mei.com", Market Watch, July 08, 2015, © MarketWatch, Inc.

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L'Oreal Agrees To Connect Yichang Factory To Hydropower July 2, 2015: 12:00 AM EST L'Oreal signed an investment deal to expand and connect to hydropower its Yichang plant in China. Part of the strategic agreement between the company and the Yichang government, the project will help L'Oreal's factory to use clean and renewable energy. By end of 2015, the Yichang plant will become the company's first factory in Asia-Pacific to become carbon-footprint neutral. One of the company's most sustainable factories, the Yichang plant has reduced CO2 emissions by 45 percent from 2005 to 2014. "L’Oeal Yichang plant in China to reach carbon footprint neutrality in 2015", L’Oreal, July 02, 2015, © L’Oréal

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Estee Lauder Cuts Prices In China In Support Of Government's Efforts To Promote Local Consumption June 23, 2015: 12:00 AM EST Estee Lauder Cos. Inc. announced it will reduce prices of certain brands in China effective July 1, 2015. Made in response to China's decision to lower import duties on cosmetics and other products to help promote domestic spending, the repricing move covers some of the company's bestselling skincare products. Brands covered include Estee Lauder, Clinique, Origins, and Lab Series. Molly Prior , "Estee Lauder Cutting Prices in China", WWD.com, June 23, 2015, © Fairchild Fashion Media

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China's Prestige Personal Care Buyers Buy Online, Study Reveals June 22, 2015: 12:00 AM EST In China, 68 percent of consumers buy prestige personal care products online, according to market research firm Bomoda. Data from the report “China Prestige Beauty Blueprint” revealed about 80 percent of consumers have bought beauty products from overseas; however, around 70 percent said they use local online stores. Also, the average buyer of prestige beauty products is 31.9 years old with annual household income at $72,540. Mostly women, these consumers have full-time job, married, and 51 percent of them living in Tier 1 cities, such as Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou. Jen King, "Lancome, Estee Lauder among best known beauty brands in China: report", Luxury Daily, June 22, 2015, © Napean LLC

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Unilever Launches Online Store On JD.com's E-commerce Platform June 15, 2015: 12:00 AM EST Unilever plans to launch a flagship store on China's online direct sales company JD.com, Inc.'s JD Worldwide e-commerce platform. Coinciding with JD.com's major anniversary sale, the launch of the flagship store will bring some of Unilever's global brands to Chinese consumers for the first time. Brands to be featured include Dove, Ponds, Vaseline, and Lux. "Unilever Launches Flagship Store on JD.com's Cross-Border E-Commerce Platform", GLOBE NEWSWIRE , June 15, 2015, © GlobeNewswire, Inc.

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Chinese Luxury Goods Brands Grew Faster Than Foreign Counterparts, DTT's 2015 Report Shows June 15, 2015: 12:00 AM EST China's luxury goods companies grew 33.4 percent, significantly outpacing their foreign rivals, according to the “2015 Global Powers of Luxury Goods” report by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. Data from the report revealed similar companies in the United States grew 9.4 percent, while UK brands posted 11.1 percent during the period. Of the top 100 fastest-growing luxury-goods companies, seven came from Hong Kong and China, and accounted for as much as 11.3 percent of the total sales. Leading sellers of luxury goods include LVMH Moet Hennessy-Louis Vuitton from France, with $21.76 billion in sales, followed by Swiss company Compagnie Financiere Richemont in second place and The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. from the United States, in third. Nisha Ramchandani , "China luxury-goods firms growing fastest globally", Asia One, June 15, 2015, © Singapore Press Holdings Ltd . Co.

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China's Lower Tariff Rates Fail To Boost Local Consumer Spending May 31, 2015: 12:00 AM EST China's decision to cut tariff rates is not likely to result in significantly lower prices for imported consumer goods, according to Reuters. Effective on June 1, 2015, the government's move aims to stimulate domestic consumption and boost economic growth. Accounting for more than half of China's GDP growth, private consumption in the country is a laggard compared with levels in other countries, such as the United States. Retail prices of imported goods in China are about 40 percent higher than those in other countries, prompting Chinese tourists to shop for such items when they travel abroad. "China import tax cuts no remedy for retail slowdown", Reuters, May 31, 2015, © Thomson Reuters

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Walmart China Tests Comprehensive O2O E-Commerce Platform May 30, 2015: 12:00 AM EST Walmart hopes to boost sales performance in China by making it very easy for smartphone customers to shop, select, pay for and pick up purchases in stores using a comprehensive “Walmart to Go” O2O (“online to offline”) e-commerce platform. The pilot program is being tested in 23 stores in the city of Shenzhen, just north of Hong Kong in Guangdong Province. Using either an iOS or Android smartphone app, shoppers can access more than 10,000 products, including fresh/dairy/frozen, grocery, health, beauty and household chemical items. Walmart China CEO Sean Clarke said the O2O program will make Walmart “the most trusted omni-channel retailer in China.” Yoko Wang, "Walmart launches Hypermarket O2O platform 'Walmart To Go' in China", Enterprise Innovation, May 30, 2015, © Questex Asia Ltd.

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Estee Lauder Cuts Prices Of Imported Products In China May 28, 2015: 12:00 AM EST Estee Lauder Companies said it will cut the prices of its products in China, in support of the government's move to lower import tariffs. Although the import tariff cut is not expected to have a significant impact on retail prices, the company said it believes the new policy will help promote domestic consumption. L'Oreal SA also announced plans to reduce prices of imported products in the country. Yang Jing , "Estee Lauder announces mainland price cuts following government’s import tariff reduction", Global Times, May 28, 2015, © Global Times

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Kao Opens Shanghai Plant For Making Shampoo And Cosmetics Ingredients May 28, 2015: 12:00 AM EST Kao invested 5 billion yen to build a manufacturing plant in Shanghai, which will produce key ingredients for shampoo and cosmetics. Bringing Kao's chemical production plants in China to a total of three, the facility will produce ingredients aimed at the market for environment-friendly products. With a total production area of 83,000sq m, the factory will help Kao's product development efforts for the China market. Michelle Yeomans, "Kao further invests in Shanghai market", Cosmetics Design , May 28, 2015, © William Reed Business Media SAS

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China Cuts Tariff On Imported Consumer Goods May 25, 2015: 12:00 AM EST China's Ministry of Finance announced its plan to reduce import duties by half, on average, on imports ranging from cosmetics to fur garments by June 1, 2015. Aimed at promoting local consumption, the tariff cuts would include those on cosmetics, which will drop from 5 percent to 2 percent and diapers, from 7.5 percent to 2 percent. Data from market research firm Mintel showed 90 percent of Chinese consumers who traveled overseas in 2014 purchased personal-care products and cosmetics, 85 percent bought clothes and footwear, and 64 percent bought baby food or baby-care products. Laurie Burkitt, "China to Cut Taxes on Some Imported Consumer Goods to Spur Spending", Wall Street Journal, May 25, 2015, © Dow Jones & Company, Inc

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Sehpora Launches First China Online Store On JD.com's Platform May 13, 2015: 12:00 AM EST Beauty retailer Sephora launched its Chinese online flagship store on local online direct sales company JD.com's e-commerce platform. Highlighting an important e-commerce step for the beauty retailer, Sephora's online store will be the largest cosmetics store on JD.com's platform. It will feature more than 1,200 products from over 70 major international cosmetics brands, such as Dior, Guerlain, and Givenchy. "SEPHORA Opens Flagship Store on JD.com Marketplace Platform to Serve Growing Chinese Market for Authentic Cosmetics", GlobeNewswire , May 13, 2015, © GlobeNewswire, Inc.

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Shiseido Seeks To Revive Sales In China After Revenue Drop In FY 2014 May 11, 2015: 12:00 AM EST Shiseido announced a three-year plan the company hopes will help it revive its business performance in China. In fiscal 2014, the company saw its Chinese unit post the sharpest sales decline among its international operations. For the fiscal year ending in March 2015, sales in China dropped 4.8 percent on fixed foreign exchange rate, and 2.9 percent in Japanese yen. For the period 2015‒2017, the company targets 9 percent in average sales growth, as part of its Vision 2020 medium- to long-term strategy. "Shiseido seeks rebound in Chinese market", WantChinaTimes.com, May 11, 2015, © WantChinaTimes.com

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China's E-commerce Market Forecast To Keep Growing At Full Throttle, Analysts Say May 1, 2015: 12:00 AM EST Although China's economic growth has slowed down to about 7 percent, the country's more than 300 million online shoppers are driving growth in its e-commerce market. China's online retail market is forecast to reach $713 billion by 2017, a growth of 142 percent compared with 2013. Data from market research firm Nielsen revealed online sales of consumer packaged goods grew 44.8 percent through May 2014, accounting for 19.6 percent of total sales in 11 major CPG categories. While online commerce is growing, the Chinese consumer is increasingly adopting mobile phones as preferred platform for online shopping, with 57 percent choosing to do so in 2014. Supriya Chaudry, "Understanding the Online Shopper Experience in China ", CPG Matters, May 01, 2015, © CPG Matters

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Foreign Retailers Finding China A Hard Market To Crack, Report Shows April 29, 2015: 12:00 AM EST Foreign supermarket and hypermarket chains are struggling to cope with rapid changes in China's retail market, according to industry analysts. Still dealing with the effects of food safety scandals, Walmart said it plans to stop sales declines by increasing the number of its stores by more than 25 percent, upgrading existing stores, and launching a new online shopping app. Tesco's real estate venture failed, prompting the UK retailer to enter into a joint venture with local retail giant China Resources Enterprise. Local retailers also experienced negative growth since 2010, according to consulting firm OC&C, with competition from online retailers often cited as one of the biggest threats to brick-and-mortar operators. Patti Waldmeir and Jamil Anderlini , "Foreign grocers struggle in fast-moving China retail market", Financial Times, April 29, 2015, © The Financial Times Limited

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Wal-Mart Says To Open 115 New Stores In China By 2017 April 28, 2015: 12:00 AM EST Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said it plans to open 115 new stores in China by 2017. Speaking at a news conference in Beijing, Wal-Mart CEO Doug McMillon said the proposed expansion is part of the company's efforts to speed up growth in the country. Also, the company is closing some stores that are not performing as profitably as expected and is expanding its focus on the faster-growing online grocery market through its Yihaodian.com e-commerce site. Wal-Mart's expansion will include creating more than 30,000 jobs, as well as investing more than 370 million yuan to remodel more than 50 stores in 2015. Matthew Miller and Adam Jourdan, "Wal-Mart to build 115 new China stores by 2017 in push to offset slowing growth", Reuters, April 28, 2015, © Thomson Reuters

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Carrefour Starts Testing Its E-commerce Business In China April 23, 2015: 12:00 AM EST French retailer Carrefour began testing its e-commerce site in China. During the trial phase, shoppers can order products online and receive the delivery from a store nearby. Carrefour said it will launch the online store officially in June 2015. Leveraging its retail network of almost 30 stores in Shanghai, Carrefour is the latest foreign-owned retailer to launch its e-commerce business in the country. Shirley Zhu, "Carrefour Trials E-Commerce In China", Retail Analysis, April 23, 2015, © IGD Services Limited

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Alibaba Launches E-commerce Stock Tracking Index April 9, 2015: 12:00 AM EST Alibaba Group Holding Ltd and its Ant Financial Services Group launched the CSI Taojin Big Data 100 Index, an e-commerce stock tracking index. Part of the company's efforts to become a full-fledged Internet financial services operator. Also, the company plans to launch MYbank online bank in June 2015, following the launch of rival Tencent Holdings Ltd's Internet bank WeBank in January 2015. Paul Carsten et al, "UPDATE 1-Alibaba steps up China online finance network push with new index, bank", Reuters, April 09, 2015, © Thomson Reuters

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L'Oreal Says China Sales Grew 7.7 Percent In 2014 March 31, 2015: 12:00 AM EST L'Oreal reported sales in mainland China grew 7.7 percent to 14.3 billion yuan, or $2.31 billion, in 2014, compared with the previous year. According to the French cosmetics company, 2014 marked the 18th consecutive year of growth in the country, the second-largest cosmetics market in the world. L'Oreal China CEO Alexis Perakis-Valat said his company's growth in China was driven by increased investment in research and innovation, online sales growth, channel expansion, and the contribution of the MAGIC mask brand. "L’Oreal sales rise by 7.7% in the Chinese mainland year-on-year", Global Times , March 31, 2015, © Global Times

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China's Cosmetics Contain Legal Levels Of Toxic Chemicals March 26, 2015: 12:00 AM EST In China, some skincare products contain toxic chemicals in amounts within regulated limits, according to the Beijing Consumer Association. Results of the study conducted by the group revealed some of the products contained antiseptics, arsenic, mercury, formaldehyde, and other toxic substances. Mercury is commonly found as an active ingredient in skin-whitening lotions and was found in samples of Sekkisei Supreme Revitalizing Cream I, Watsons Collagen Moisturizing and Whitening Facial Lotion, as well as in lip balms manufactured by Guerlain, Givenchy, and Shu Uemura. "Cosmetics in China contain 'acceptable' levels of mercury, arsenic", Want China Times, March 26, 2015, © WantChinaTimes.com

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Demand For Korean Cosmetics In Chinese-Speaking Countries Keeps Rising, Study Shows March 25, 2015: 12:00 AM EST Nielsen said 40 percent of consumers in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore who bought Korean beauty products were planning to spend more in the next months. Results of the market research firm's survey of 1,900 women in these countries revealed six of 10 consumers have only recently discovered Korean beauty brands in the past two years. Data also revealed that among the respondents, the leading reason for the popularity of Korean cosmetics was the perception that Korean-made beauty products were “new and trendy.” Consumer preference for buying cosmetics from conventional outlets, such as department stores and duty-free stores, has made South Korea a top travel destination among Chinese-speaking consumers. Jonathan Cheng, "No Sign of Letup in Chinese Demand for Korean Cosmetics", Wall Street Journal, March 25, 2015, © Dow Jones & Company, Inc

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China's Economy In 2015 Mirrors U.S. In 2008 March 23, 2015: 12:00 AM EST Economic conditions in China in 2015 look like those in the United States in 2008, according to market analysts. In March, China's government lowered its 2015 GDP growth target to around 7 percent, its lowest in 11 years, compared with 7.4 percent in 2014. A slowdown in the real estate market, overcapacity at factories, and growing local debt are weighing down China's economy. China's central bank cut interest rates twice since November 2014, and allowed its banks to increase lending volumes. According to Gabriel Investments managing partner Richard Vague, the country is forecast to have its largest budget deficit since the international financial crisis this year. Joanna Campione, "China looks 'a lot like the U.S. in 2008'", Yahoo! Finance, March 23, 2015, © Yahoo! Inc.

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Russian And Chinese Online Payment Systems Join Forces To Offer Cross-Border Payment Service March 20, 2015: 12:00 AM EST Russia-based online payment system Yandex.Money partnered with China's online platform TradeEase to launch a cross-border e-commerce platform for consumers in the two countries. Expected to achieve a turnover of $830,000 in the first three months after its launch in summer 2015, the online service will be introduced by China's PayEase payment system, Bank of China, the Chinese province of Heilongjiang, and the border city of Suifenhe. Chinese stores near the Russian border will be able to sell their goods online using the planned platform. Trade between Heilongjiang and Russia grew to over $23 billion in 2014, accounting for about one-fourth of total Russia-China trade. "Russia and China to open joint e-commerce platform in summer", RT, March 20, 2015, © Autonomous Nonprofit Organization “TV-Novosti”

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Chinese Search Engine Plans U.S. IPO In 2015 March 20, 2015: 12:00 AM EST Sohu.com Inc.'s web search engine business Sogou Inc. is preparing a $3 billion initial public offering in the United States. According to unidentified sources, the company could sell shares by the second half of 2015. Sogou reported revenue rose 70 percent to $119 million in the fourth quarter of 2014, compared with the same period in the previous year. It accounted for 6.9 percent of web search queries in China during the same period, compared with rival Baidu's 74.4 percent. Fox Hu, Lulu Yilun Chen et al, "China’s ‘Search Dog’ Said to Plan IPO at $3 Billion Value", Bloomberg Business, March 20, 2015, © Bloomberg L.P.

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China Resources Rebrands Tesco China Stores February 12, 2015: 12:00 AM EST China Resources Enterprises said it has rebranded all of the 135 Tesco China stores under its Vanguard brand. In 2014, China Resources acquired a majority stake in Tesco's retail operations in China. According to China Resources, the company aims to return the retail chain to profitability within three years following its move to combine the chains' backroom operations. CR Vanguard, which owns more than 4,100 stores in the country, entered into a joint venture with Tesco, which left the UK retailer with just 20 percent of the resulting business. "Tesco China stores rebranded", Fresh Plaza, February 12, 2015, © Fresh Plaza

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AmorePacific Expects China Sales To Grow 30 Percent In 2015 February 9, 2015: 12:00 AM EST South Korean cosmetics company AmorePacific Group said it expects sales in China to grow 30 percent in 2015. In 2014, China sales grew 21 percent to 4.7 trillion won, or $4.3 billion, the company reported on February 2, 2015. AmorePacific is expanding its channel in the country to grab a bigger share of China's middle-class market. In 2020, China is expected to account for 30 percent of the company's total sales, up from 8.6 percent in 2013. "Korea Pop Fervor to Lift AmorePacific China Sales by 30%", Bloomberg, February 09, 2015, © Bloomberg L.P.

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Costco Enters China Market Via Alibaba's E-commerce Door February 7, 2015: 12:00 AM EST Retailer Costco launched its business in China by opening a store on e-commerce company Alibaba's Tmall Global platform. Refusing to follow the lead of other foreign-owned retailers, which launched their brick-and-mortar retail stores in the country, Costco focused instead on online sales. During its first month of operations, the company reported $6.4 million in sales. Costco's partnership with Tmall Global offers several advantages, including the ability to operate without the need for local storage facilities and the need to secure business licenses. Eshna Basu, "Costco Wholesale Corporation Enters China the Smart Way", Motley Fool, February 07, 2015, © The Motley Fool, LLC

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Walmart Sends Veteran Exec To China To Restore Reputation February 6, 2015: 12:00 AM EST Walmart is trying to polish its image in “critical market” China after damaging news reports about questionable accounting, inventory and food-safety practices. The company named veteran Walmart employee Maggie Sans as senior vice president and chief corporate affairs officer in China to help improve its reputation. A story published by Bloomberg News in December showed that Walmart’s China unit had for years engaged in unauthorized sales and accounting practices that made the business appear healthy in the midst of an actual slowdown in retail transactions. Renee Dudley, "Wal-Mart Creates New Post in China to Improve Reputation", Bloomberg, February 06, 2015, © Bloomberg L.P.

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Hong Kong Sees Strong Ad Spend Growth In 2014 January 22, 2015: 12:00 AM EST Total advertising spend in Hong Kong rose 16 percent to HK$49.9 billion in 2014, driven by increases in online and mobile campaigns, according to data from media-monitoring agency admanGo. The significant growth from the previous year's HK$43 billion confirmed the market forecasts made by the Hong Kong Advertisers Association and Nielsen in February 2014. Although banking and investment services accounted for the largest ad spending, Procter & Gamble held on to its spot as the special territory's top advertiser, data also revealed. Bien Perez , "Digital campaigns boost HK advertising market", South China Morning Post , January 22, 2015, © South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd.

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Henkel Opens Management Center In Shanghai January 20, 2015: 12:00 AM EST Henkel opened its new Henkel Management Center office complex in Shanghai. Designed to promote a “culture of cooperation and transparency,” the facility houses more than 300 executives and employees from the company's Corporate Communications, Purchasing, HR, and other departments. It features meeting rooms for groups of various sizes, focus rooms for individual work, and other areas for less structured interactions among employees. "Henkel unveils its Management Center", Henkel, January 20, 2015, © Henkel AG & Co. KGaA

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India Will Overtake China To Become World's Fastest-Growing Big Economy, World Bank Says January 14, 2015: 12:00 AM EST India is expected to become the world's fastest-growing, big economy, overtaking China, in the coming two years, according to the World Bank. Driven by the Indian government's implementation of changes in the country's economic policy, growth is forecast to accelerate further in the coming years, while most of the world economy slows down. China, which has held on to the position for years, has seen its economy cool down. In contrast, India is likely to post a 7 percent growth rate in 2017, outpacing China's 6.9 percent. Eric Bellman, "World Bank: India to Become Fastest-Growing Big Economy", The Wall Street Journal, January 14, 2015, © Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

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Thorne, Mayo Clinic Partner To Test Range Of Dietary Supplements December 16, 2014: 12:00 AM EST Dietary supplement maker Thorne Research announced it will work with the Mayo Clinic on a series of clinical trials to test the safety and efficacy of compounds from natural sources, plant extracts, and complex nutritional products that are "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS). The testing, to be conducted at the Mayo Clinic, will focus on supplements targeting conditions with significant human need, sports related performance, recovery and injury, and nutritional support for surgical care. Results will be used to develop supplements, medical foods, functional foods and botanical drugs. Thorne said it will also test formulations from traditional Chinese medicine. "Thorne Research Announces Clinical Study Agreement with Mayo Clinic for Dietary Supplements", News release, Thorne research, December 16, 2014, © Thorne Research

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Walmart’s Problems In China Have Deep Roots December 12, 2014: 12:00 AM EST A Bloomberg analysis of internal Walmart documents related to its business in China, as well as information gathered from employees, tell a tale of long-developing problems in the country, including questionable accounting, unauthorized sales practice and severe inventory problems. Some stores, for example, were booking sales when no merchandise left the shelves. Some stores were routinely making unauthorized bulk sales to other retailers. After years of crowing about its success in the region, the company finally admitted in August its operations in China have been in serious trouble. The revelation led to a management shake-up and cuts in staff. Renee Dudley and Liza Lin , "How Wal-Mart Made Its Crumbling China Business Look So Good for So Long", Bloomberg, December 12, 2014, © Bloomberg L.P.

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KFC Launches PR Campaign In China To Prove Its Operations Are Hygienic December 10, 2014: 12:00 AM EST After a food safety scare at one of its Chinese suppliers, KFC has invited fried chicken lovers in the country – the biggest market for parent company Yum Brands -- to come and see for themselves that the restaurant chain maintains high standards of hygiene. The problem arose when a TV report alleged that workers at a KFC chicken supplier were adding expired meat to products. Customers can book a tour showing employee hand-washing, clean cooking oil, safe chicken raising practices, and use of purified water. Alexandra Harney, "KFC calls on Chinese diners to inspect its kitchen", Reuters, December 10, 2014, © Thomson Reuters

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L'Occitane Opens Online Store On Alibaba's Tmall Portal December 5, 2014: 12:00 AM EST French skincare brand L'Occitane opened its online store on Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.'s shopping portal Tmall on December 1, 2014. Seeing its products already being sold on the ecommerce platform without its permission, L'Occitane decided to do the selling online to Chinese consumers itself. Many leading beauty and personal care brands opened their Tmall stores in 2014, encouraged by Alibaba's promise to remove unauthorized sellers of their products from its online platform once these brands opened their own branded stores. For example, after Burberry and Estee Lauder opened their stores, Alibaba removed all third-party sellers of their products. Kathy Chu, "L’Occitane Launches Online Store on Alibaba’s Tmall Site", Wall Street Journal, December 05, 2014, © Dow Jones & Company, Inc

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China Becomes World's Largest Economy; Leaves America Behind In Number 2 Spot December 4, 2014: 12:00 AM EST China overtook the United States to become the world's largest economy, according to the International Monetary Fund. Data from the IMF, in terms of national economic output in “real” terms of goods and services, China will produce $17.6 trillion in 2014, compared with $17.4 trillion for the US. In other words, China accounts for 16.5 percent of the global economy in terms of real purchasing power; the United States, 16.3 percent. Calculations by the IMF are based on purchasing-power parity, which measures a country's actual economic output rather than exchange rates fluctuations. Brett Arends, "It’s official: America is now No. 2", MarketWatch, December 04, 2014, © MarketWatch, Inc

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Unilever Believes Global Economy Will Improve In 2015, Thanks To Recovery In Emerging Markets December 3, 2014: 12:00 AM EST Unilever CEO Paul Polman said he expects the world economy to improve in 2015. Despite the current slowdown, many emerging markets still have the potential for “healthy growth,” Polman said. A weaker economy in China, India, and Brazil drove Unilever sales down to its lowest levels in five years, according to the company. Polman said, however, his optimism was driven by the International Monetary Fund's forecast for a slightly higher global growth in 2015. "Unilever upbeat on future growth in emerging markets", Independent Online, December 03, 2014, © Independent Online

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Heinz Opens High Tech Baby Cereal Factory In Southern China December 2, 2014: 12:00 AM EST Heinz announced the opening of a $70 million 80,000 square meter baby cereal factory in China’s Guangdong Province. The company says it’s the largest such factory in the world, and is the seventh Heinz manufacturing facility in the country. The state-of-the-art factory is a showcase of advanced technologies, including drum dryers, powder handling systems and packaging machinery from global companies like Andritz Gouda, GEA Group, and Bosch. The technologies will not only speed production, they will ensure the most stringent quality controls, the company said, completely isolating allergens, from raw material storage to the production process. "Heinz Opens State-of-the-Art Infant Cereal Factory in China", News release, Heinz, December 02, 2014, © H. J. Heinz Company

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AmorePacific Revises Marketing Strategy For Namesake Flagship Brand December 2, 2014: 12:00 AM EST South Korean cosmetics company AmorePacific is repositioning its flagship brand. After withdrawing the brand from Japan, the company also pulled the brand from its duty-free stores in South Korea except those at the Incheon International Airport. Launched in 2002, the brand carried the company's dream of competing with global luxury brands, such as Lancome and Estee Lauder. Although it had a relative success in the United States, the brand, however, failed to find market success in Japan and never attracted big-spending Chinese consumers. Lee Jae-seung, "Global Luxury Skincare Brand AMORE PACIFIC Opens Shops in Hong Kong", Korea IT Times, December 02, 2014, © KOREA IT TIMES

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Wal-Mart Announces 250 Job Cuts In China December 1, 2014: 12:00 AM EST Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said it will reduce its workforce in China by 250 jobs as part of the retailer's efforts to reorganize its business operations in the country. Also aimed at reducing costs and improving its revenue performance, the layoffs will affect 250 middle and lower-level employees, less than 1 percent of the country's workforce in China, and worked at the firm's corporate affairs and asset protection units. Wal-Mart currently operates 400 stores in the country and will open nine new stores and a new distribution center in China by end of 2015. Also, the company plans to build a $97.5 million shopping mall in the city of Zhuhai. Laurie Burkitt, "Wal-Mart to Cut 250 Jobs in China", Wall Street Journal, December 01, 2014, © Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

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Demand For Men's Skincare Products Drives Overall Market Growth In China November 27, 2014: 12:00 AM EST China's market for men's skincare products, currently valued at $974 million, is forecast to grow to $1.2 billion by the end of 2014 and $2.5 billion by 2019. Although the women's skincare segment, estimated to be worth $107.6 billion in 2013, is more than 30 times larger than the men's market, it is expanding only at a CAGR of 4.8 percent. In contrast, the men's market is growing at a 9.4 percent CAGR. Data revealed the men's facial products market, for example, grew at a CAGR of 20.1 percent from 2009 to 2014. For male consumers in China, the most popular products are shampoo, facial cleansers, and lotions. Emma Le Marchand, "China skin care market driven by male beauty products", Companies And Markets, November 27, 2014, © Vertical Edge Limited

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Amore Pacific's Laneige, Two Other Brands, Tops In Consumer Recall In China, Study Shows November 26, 2014: 12:00 AM EST Amore Pacific's Laneige brand is the most popular Korean cosmetics brand  among consumers in China, according to the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency.  Results of a consumer survey covering 10 major cities in the country showed 12.2 percent of 2,194 respondents chose Laneige. Two other brands owned by Amore Pacific, Mamonde and Sulwhasoo, were ranked fourth and fifth, respectively. Survey results also revealed six out of the 10 most recognized Korean brands were cosmetics brands. "Laneige Cosmetics Most Recognizable Korean Brand in China", The Chosun Ilbo, November 26, 2014, © Chosun.com

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Men's Products Driving Growth In China's Facial Care Market, Mintel Reports November 26, 2014: 12:00 AM EST China's market for facial care products for men expanded at a compound annual growth rate of 20.1 percent from 2009 to 2014, almost twice the growth rate for women's products, according to Mintel Group. Data from the market research firm revealed men's products account for only 4 percent of the total facial care products market in China; however, they have become a growth engine for the market. China's market for men's facial care products  is forecast to double to 15.4 billion yuan, or $2.5 billion, by 2019, Mintel said. Also, the report revealed shampoos, facial cleansers, and shower products are the three most popular categories of men's grooming products. Wang Hongyi, "Men spending more on facial care", China Daily, November 26, 2014, © China Daily Information Co (CDIC)

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Wal-Mart Slims Down Management Ranks Of China Unit November 26, 2014: 12:00 AM EST Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said it is eliminating almost 30 director and midlevel management jobs in China as part of the retailer's efforts to reduce costs and improve declining sales in the country. Retail sales in China grew 12 percent in the first 10 months of 2014, compared with 13 percent in the previous year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Wal-Mart, which has about 400 stores in the country, reported sales dropped 0.8 percent in the third quarter of 2014. Laurie Burkitt, "Wal-Mart Stores Cuts Nearly 30 Directors and Midlevel Managers in China", Wall Street Journal, November 26, 2014, © Dow Jones & Company, Inc

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Weibo Reports Improved Revenue For Fiscal Third Quarter November 19, 2014: 12:00 AM EST Weibo reported revenue of $84 million in its fiscal third quarter 2014, better than Wall Street analysts' forecast of $80 million, as well as the company's guided revenue between $79 million and $82 million. Net loss during the quarter was $1.4 million, much smaller than the $5.1 million in the same quarter of the previous year, with analysts expecting a loss of $2.1 million. According to the company, e-commerce accounted for 42 percent of the company's third-quarter ad revenue. Vikas Shukla, "Weibo: E-Commerce To Drive Revenue Growth", Seeking Alpha, November 19, 2014, © Seeking Alpha

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China’s Poor Food Handling Systems Lead To Huge Amounts Of Waste November 14, 2014: 12:00 AM EST Thanks to lower prices -- the cost to import grain has dropped 30 percent in the last two years -- China is importing much more this year than last year. But a major problem persists: China wastes vast amounts of grain and other foods. The country discards 35 million metric tons a year because of faulty storage, transportation and processing systems. A government grain official told China Daily that the discarded grain could feed 200 million people for a year, a ”shameful” situation. Inferior food storage systems have led to the spoilage of large quantities of fruit, vegetables, and meat. Christina Larson, "China Wastes Half as Much Grain as It Imports", Bloomberg Businessweek, November 14, 2014, © Bloomberg L.P.

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China-Korea Pact Means Stronger Cosmetics Trade November 12, 2014: 12:00 AM EST China and South Korea signed a preliminary agreement that will remove tariffs on more than 90 percent of products traded between the two countries. Expected to become a formal treaty in 2015 once both countries acquire domestic legislative ratification, the proposed law will cover various consumer products, including cosmetics and personal care. Under existing trading regulations in China, South Korean cosmetics are assessed with tariffs as high as 130 percent, which puts them in the luxury and high-end market. Simon Pitman, "China and Korea agree on legislation likely to boost cosmetics trade", Cosmetics Design Asia , November 12, 2014, © William Reed Business Media SAS

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Wal-Mart's July Quarter Sales Hurt By China's Austerity Drive November 9, 2014: 12:00 AM EST Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said same-store sales in China decreased 1.6 percent for the quarter ending July 2014, compared with the same period in 2013. Wal-Mart Asia president Scott Price said the decline in sales was caused by lower sales of gift cards, moon cakes, and other products commonly used in gift giving in the country. China's campaign against lavish spending is discouraging government and business leaders from buying expensive goods. Also, growing competition from local retailers and e-commerce companies is also hurting Wal-Mart's revenue in the country. Laurie Burkitt, "Wal-Mart Feels Pinch From China Austerity Campaign", Wall Street Journal, November 09, 2014, © Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

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Beauty Brands Claim China's Cosmetics Market Still Going Strong November 4, 2014: 12:00 AM EST The world's leading cosmetics brands, such as Estee Lauder, Mary Kay, and Shiseido, remain focused on their expansion plans in China despite reports of a market slowdown in the country. Retail sales in China's cosmetics market grew 16.5 percent to 107.7 billion yuan, or $17.3 billion, in the first 10 months of 2014, compared with the same period in 2013. Estee Lauder, which sells 12 of its 28 cosmetics brands in the country, aims to remain the largest foreign beauty brand by launching its local brand Osiao. Local beauty companies, however, are growing their share of the market and driving up competition in the process. Michelle Yeomans, "Cosmetics industry brushes off talk of slump in China", Cosmetics Design , November 04, 2014, © William Reed Business Media SAS

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Danone Acquires Stake In Chinese Baby Formula Maker October 31, 2014: 12:00 AM EST French yogurt maker Danone has paid $550 million for a 25 percent stake in Chinese baby formula producer Yashili International Holdings. According to analysts, the investment in Yashili strengthens Danone's association with Yashili's largest shareholder, China Mengniu Dairy Co Ltd., China’s largest dairy firm, whose stake in Yashili will be diluted as a result. The investment also reduces the chance of Danone pursuing other large acquisitions, such as the rumored takeover of Mead Johnson Nutrition Group, which also manufactures baby formula. Adam Jourdan et al., "Danone bolsters China presence with $550 mln baby milk deal", Reuters, October 31, 2014, © Thomson Reuters

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