<p><a href="http://www.skyscrapers.cn/forum/viewthread.php?tid=96294&extra=page%3D1">http://www.skyscrapers.cn/forum/viewthread.php?tid=96294&extra=page%3D1</a></p><div class="t_msgfont" id="message1317800">Q: I notice that Ito-Yokado prefers to focus on one particular area first and then expand to other areas. And it seems that you will play the leading role in this here in Beijing. Do you consider Beijing to have better economic prospects than other big cities in China?<br/><br/> A: Now Hua Tang Yokado only has GMS in Chengdu and Beijing. A<font face="Tahoma "><b><i>ctually many cities including <font size="5"><font color="#ff0000">Shenyang and Tianjin</font></font> have invited us to launch new stores there, but we <font size="7"><font color="#0000ff">declined</font></font>. It is not right to rush things.</i></b></font><br/><br/> Q: What are your plans for supermarkets and convenience stores in Beijing?<br/><br/> A: In 2005, Hua Tang Yokado cooperated with Wangfujing Supermarket Group and opened a supermarket in Wangfujing, recently, we opened a new supermarket in Jinsong. Ito-Yokado’s subsidiary company, 7-11 Convenience Store Group, also began to enter the Beijing market last year, now it has 21 branches in Beijing, and we hope the number will reah 80 this year.<br/><br/> Q: Do you have any plans to target the Olympics?<br/><br/> A: To be frank, the answer is no. Our most important task is to promote the retail industry in China. Hua Tang Yokado wants to serve middle-class people in China, who have an income of 1,200 to 1,500 yuan a month as a minimum. Hua Tang Yokado wants to provide them with a safe and clean shopping environment.<br/><br/> 椦e stress our characteristics, instead of pursuing cheaper prices blindly’Q: All the world’s big retailers are targeting China now and China’s local retailers are also expanding. What’s your strategy for coping with the competitioA: We believe that in retail, the living space of a company is decided by the guests. So we always pay attention to the consumers’ interests and demands, to provide commodities with better quality and better service. Compared to others, we stress our characteristcs, instead of pursuing cheaper prices blindly. For example, the fruit we sell is transported from Xinjiang and Hainan by air; and clothing materials are from Shanghai, which fills the gap in the Beijing market. And we pay more attention to the shopping environment, to make it more friendly.</div>