Foreign brands open flagship stores in Shanghai in bid to integrate into consumer market

Foreign brands are deepening their integration into Shanghai's commercial landscape, driving the renewal of retail spaces and the upgrading of consumer experiences.

Shanghai's draw for international brands is supported by the city's strong business environment, vast consumer market and well-developed debut economy.

It also benefits from national-level support. China's Ministry of Commerce has introduced 15 measures to boost foreign investment, including support for foreign-invested retailers wanting to upgrade to urban commercial districts and launch global debuts.

Around the city, international brands have been opening their first-in-China flagship stores. These stores are offering services ranging across community retail, premium skincare and immersive dining.

Among them is German skincare brand Barbor, which opened its first flagship store in the Chinese mainland in June, launching a specialist skincare concept in Shanghai.

"Shanghai was a natural choice for our flagship store. Our concept brings together a boutique in the front and the spa in the back, creating seamless experience of retail and professional skin care. And we believe in immense potential of a Chinese market. The market is dynamic and highly competitive, it pushed us to elevate our brand and our service. We will continue to invest and bring more professional skin care expertise to the Chinese consumers. Our goal is straightforward: to grow together with the Chinese market for the long term," said Henryk Grund, Babor's vice president for sales.

Lindt, world-renowned chocolatier and confectionery company, opened its first flagship store in Shanghai on July 1, gaining an immediate warm welcome from the public.

"Shanghai is definitely the first spot that where we wanted to have our own store. We had queues in front of the stores, that means really the consumers in Shanghai, and also our chocolate classes that we all offer every now and then here in our stores have been booked out very fast. The Chinese market, it's such a booming market, such a growing market, an interesting market, the consumers love to experience new things. We have a long term commitment to the Chinese market. We will be definitely present in China and grow with the markets and with the Chinese population," said Michal Spiller, CEO of Lindt and Sprüngli Germany, who holds executive responsibility for the company's regional operations across Germany, Austria, Japan, and China.

Foreign brands open flagship stores in Shanghai in bid to integrate into consumer market

Health officials in Gaza warned Saturday of a severe health crisis in the enclave, with critical shortages of medicines, equipment and ambulance services threatening hundreds of thousands of patients.

Mohammed Abu Afash, director of the Medical Relief Organization in Gaza, said the health system has not received promised medical convoys since the ceasefire, leaving a critical shortage of medicines and equipment, with medical testing supplies deficit exceeding 87 percent.

He noted that over 24,000 patients with chronic conditions lack proper care, and that many of the more than 300,000 hypertension patients have suffered serious complications due to interrupted treatment.

With summer heat intensifying, he warned of rapidly spreading infectious diseases in crowded displacement camps.

Meanwhile, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement that 70 percent of ambulance vehicles are out of service due to direct targeting, mechanical failures and lack of spare parts, warning that the continued ban on the entry of tires and spare parts could paralyze the transportation system.

The deteriorating situation drew condemnation from Fatah official Munther al-Hayek, who, in a radio interview, described the situation as "a full-fledged war led by the United States through Israel."

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has been in effect since Oct 10, 2025.

Gaza's health system faces severe crisis as medicine, ambulance services dwindle: officials