"Price drops for both new and existing homes in big cities in July showed that the downturn in the property market is expanding."

Zhang Dawei, director of market research at Beijing-based Centaline Property Agency Ltd, a property consultancy.

"Chocolate is a growing category in China and M&M's is the largest candy brand in the world."

Brian Schiegg, general manager of Mars Retail Group, says Mars Inc is setting up exclusive megastores to drive growth in China.

"As we continue to grow our global expansion, this will be a step forward using the power of China's online reach and therefore selling into one of the world's most exciting consumer markets."

Philip Green, chief executive of the Arcadia Group, the parent company of Topshop, saying that given the upfront costs and time to build a physical store in China, the company instead seeks to attract Chinese customers with an e-commerce approach.

( China Daily European Weekly 08/22/2014 page18)