L'Occitane to expand in China's lower-tier cities
Having reached close to maximum capacity in Beijing and Shanghai, L'Occitane is to expand into the country's lower-tier cities, helping create growth and brand awareness, the company's vice-chairman and managing director of Asia-Pacific announced at a press conference.

HONG KONG -- L'Occitane shrugged off the suggestion that China's economic slowdown is hurting consumption, as the upmarket French skincare brand is planning to expand into the country's lower-tier cities for growth opportunities with the help of e-commerce.

"We've probably reached close to maximum capacity in Beijing and Shanghai," said Andre Hoffmann, the company's vice-chairman and managing director of Asia-Pacific, on Monday, adding that opening new physical stores in China's second- and third-tier cities would help to create brand awareness.