Amway to build botanical research center in Wuxi

Want China Times, Liu Fu-yu and Staff Reporter 2013-10-12

Amway representatives during the ground-breaking ceremony for the new
project in Wuxi. (Internet Photo)

Amway, the American direct-selling company that markets health, beauty and home care products, announced that it will begin construction of the world's first Nutrilite botanical research center in Wuxi in eastern China's Jiangsu province to make products targeting the multi-billion Chinese market.

The company will invest up to US$25 million in this center to study the possibilities of combining western biotechnology with traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, and roll out new products targeting Chinese consumers.

Chen Jia, deputy CEO of Amway's China Research and Development branch, said that China is already the company's biggest market and the sales for health food is still growing fast due to the government's help in promotion.

Amway registered 50 billion yuan (US$8.2 billion) sales in 2006, which amounted to 80 billion yuan (US$13.1 billion) in 2008. Its sales currently exceed 100 billion yuan (US$16.3 billion) and the figure is expected to triple in the coming five years, Chen said.

The first stage of investment will involve US$25 million for a processing plant on 700 acres of land in Wuxi. This will include a laboratory and an experimental farm, with both units scheduled to begin operations in 2015. Meanwhile, the center will not only facilitate further research into Chinese medicinal herbs, but the general public will also be able to visit and experience the company's products, Chen said.