by Martina Fuchs
GENEVA, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Weleda, a Switzerland-based health and beauty-products company, plans to expand in the Chinese market and launch new products as consumers in China increasingly favor environmental protection and sustainability, Weleda Hong Kong's managing director has said.
Expressing her optimism about the Chinese market, Brigitte Huang told Xinhua in an interview that "during the pandemic, many Chinese consumers have switched from shopping in store to shopping online."
"The volume of e-commerce retail sales in China has continued its rapid growth and gained further market share from the offline markets," Huang said in the interview ahead of the second China International Consumer Products Expo that kicked off Monday in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province.
The expo has attracted more than 1,200 domestic brands, 1,107 overseas companies, and 1,643 brands from 61 countries and regions, including Weleda, a company founded in 1921 as a pharmaceutical laboratory that has grown into a manufacturer of holistic natural cosmetics as well as pharmaceuticals for anthroposophical medicines.
"Building on the experience we have accumulated over the past years in China, Weleda plans to expand its business in China with a broader range of products," Huang said.
The managing director observed that one of the most exciting consumer trends in China is the increasing demand for natural ingredients for cosmetics as the Chinese put environmental issues and sustainability higher on their buying agenda.
As a manufacturer that focuses on products made of natural substances, Huang said, "Weleda is in a position to have a bright future in China."
Meanwhile, the businessperson noted "the Chinese consumers appreciate true quality but are also very sensitive to prices."
This is aligned with Weleda's strengths and continued goals of providing top-notch and natural products at an affordable price, Huang added.
Despite the recent COVID-19 flare-ups in China, Huang said "we are still pretty confident with China," adding that Weleda will continue to make its presence felt at local and international events.
For example, this year, in addition to attending again the consumer products expo and the China International Import Expo in Shanghai, Weleda will for the first time participate in the China Beauty Expo, she said.
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