Japan : Onward Kashiyama Eyes Chinese Expansion Drive

Upscale clothing group Onward Kashiyama Co has revealed plans to open dozens of new stores in China over the next couple of years as part of an overseas expansion drive.

The company, which posted a 40 per cent rise in quarterly same-store sales, currently operates stores in six cities in China but will enter other cities by 2005 including the capital Beijing and Dalian.

It sees Chinese sales of 1.1 billion yen this year but plans to quadruple that by 2005 as it opens up to 80 new stores.