World Cup helps tea makers
By Qiu Quanlin (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-07-04 08:29 Guangdong is the powerhouse for herbal tea products, with annual sales
hitting 2 million tons.
It is estimated that there are about 1,000 herbal
tea brands in Guangdong, of which about 500 are based in Guangzhou, the
provincial capital. Herbal tea production is expected to reach 60 million tons
by 2010.
After the national recognition, many herbal tea makers are
expecting to increase their sales networks both inside and outside the Pearl
River Delta.
Huang said his company plans to open 200 more outlets in
Guangzhou this year.
The company, which was established in 1997, now
boasts more than 800 outlets in the Pearl River Delta.
It is also seeking
opportunities in North China and Southeast Asian countries.
"As more people
become aware of herbal tea's benefits we think the markets will grow," Huang
said.
Xu Xingquan, an official with the Xu Qi Xiu Herbal Tea Co Ltd,
which is based in Foshan, said his firm would open more than 200 outlets in
Guangzhou over the next two years.
Another producer, Jiang Sheng Tang, is
planning 1,000 outlets in Guangdong Province this year.The company moved its
headquarter from Foshan to Guangzhou last year in a bid to improve
profits.
At present, the company has about 400 tea shops in Guangdong, of
which 40 are in Guangzhou.
Sources with the company said that it plans to
open chain stores in Shanghai, and Zhejiang and Hunan provinces.
Herbal
tea makers are also being urged to pay more attention to quality.
(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)
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