Multinational finds that with milk, a local touch is best

2012-06-22 16:55

Unlike other milk powder brands that say they use imported dairy products, Nestle SA boasts that the infant nutrition series it sells in China has purely Asian origins. By building a totally domestic milk source base, Nestle is trying to convince Chinese of its credentials.

Flash forward to the future

2012-06-22 16:55

For Zhao Hongzhuan it was a dream come true in April when consumer electronics major Samsung Electronics Co decided to make its biggest-ever overseas investment of around $7 billion (5.52 billion euros) in Xi'an. A mixed feeling of anxiety, pressure and excitement had gripped Zhao in the days preceding, as he was unsure whether the largest foreign investment by value in western China would bypass Xi'an for other locations such as Chongqing. But what he was sure about were the benefits that the project would bring to the capital of Shaanxi province. "Samsung has come, and so will other large multinationals," says Zhao, a senior official of the Xi'an government and the director of the administrative committee of Xi'an High-tech Industries Development Zone.

Turning the tide

2012-06-22 16:55

Li Ning, head of Honeywell Life Safety's Xi'an operations, has been on a fast track for most of his career. The middle-aged professional has spent most of his recent years in Xi'an and held several job titles in Honeywell Life Safety like deputy manager of the Xi'an operations in 1994, and the general manager of China operations in 2006 before being elevated as the vice-president of Asia-Pacific operations based in Xi'an last year.

German know-how on tap in Qingdao

2012-06-22 16:55

There is more to Qingdao than its superb maritime backdrop with its yachts and ships. The city in Shandong province that looks out on to the Yellow Sea is also renowned for its strong German influence, embodied in every glass of Tsingtao, the beer named after the city.

Dash of tea that tamed them all

2012-06-22 16:55

Its smooth and honeyed taste has captured the imagination of China's new rich, for whom holding it in a cut-crystal glass symbolizes the exuberance of modern life.

Allen Edmonds gains footing in China

2012-06-22 16:55

Former US presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton are all familiar with Allen Edmonds, or more particularly, its black-toecapped leather shoes. The high-end shoe manufacturer, based in the state of Wisconsin, is now hoping the rest of China can look similarly stately.

Fast-food frenzy

2012-06-15 12:43

In the fast-food industry, speed is obviously one of the key ingredients. Nevertheless, Tomaz Hladnik is amazed at how rapidly foreign fast-food producers have developed in China over the past decade.

Chinese chains rise to challenge

2012-06-15 12:43

It was the ultimate challenge: find a way to adapt a traditional Chinese dish that takes ages to prepare for those who need their food in a flash - customers of fast-food restaurants.

IN BRIEF (Page 14)

2012-06-15 12:43

Quotable

2012-06-15 12:43

Going Regional

2012-06-15 12:43

European businesses are being urged to explore opportunities in China's regional cities, as competition in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou becomes more intense. A recent report by the China-Britain Business Council and United Kingdom Trade & Investment highlights key sectors where British firms might find opportunities in China's second- and third-tier cities.

Big brands lead charge

2012-06-15 12:43

Major brands from across Europe are looking toward China's second- and third-tier cities as the country's domestic market continues to grow outside of Beijing and Shanghai.

Basking in the sun

2012-06-15 12:43

Location, location, location. Rizhao, in the southeastern of Shandong province, has it in spades.

Double the marks

2012-06-15 12:43

Given a challenging economic environment and sluggish sales in its home market, British retailer Marks and Spencer Group PLC is moving faster to expand its presence on the Chinese mainland.

One good figure does not a recovery make

2012-06-15 12:43

Economists are forecasting that trade between China and the European Union will remain sluggish in the next few months, even though last month's figures seemed to give cause for optimism.

Lure of the big catch

2012-06-15 12:43

Most successful entrepreneurs love what they do, be it the business they run or their favorite indulgences like arts and sports. Like the rest of his peers in China, Chen Guodong, a 32-year-old entrepreneur from Hangzhou, in Zhejiang province, also has his favorite indulgence.

Hard times call for fresh thinking

2012-06-15 12:43

Investors know that Warren Buffett once said: "Only when the tide goes out do you discover who's been swimming naked."

Getting down and dirty

2012-06-08 10:42

With more than 1.3 billion people to feed and expectations that demand for grain, fruit, vegetable, seafood, meat, dairy and beverage products will increase at least 10 percent every year for the next five years, China's government is placing a high premium on developing agricultural industries.

Growing in greener pastures

2012-06-08 10:42

Chinese firms tap resource-rich countries to feed world's largest population

Health kick has Chic turning blue

2012-06-08 10:42

Versatile company looks to an uncommon fruit in China to target the nation's growing consumer trend for healthier foods