B&Q planning growth in China

B&Q intends to open 13 branches in China by the end of 2005. More than half of them are to be built in Peking and in the coastal cities of Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, according to a report by China Economic Net. The UK company intends to move into the central and western parts of the company (Chongqing, Xi’an and Chengdu). It is hoping for further growth potential in small and medium-sized cities as well, since China has committed itself to opening these up to foreign retail and wholesale businesses from 11 December as one condition of its WTO membership. B&Q intends to be represented by 80 outlets in 30 cities in China by the year 2009.