Mothercare accelerates China expansion

Mothercare is stepping up its expansion in China and plans to open five or six stores there in the second half of its financial year, its chief executive said.

Ben Gordon told Reuters the firm had trialled, with its joint venture partner, two stores in China last year and had opened a further two shops since then.

"Nineteen million babies a year (are born in China), so clearly the opportunity is huge."

He said Mothercare, which earlier reported a 7 percent rise in second-quarter sales, would outline its longer-term ambitions for China alongside interim results in November.

Gordon said the firm was on course to open at least 100 stores abroad this financial year, and would enter Australia and South Africa in the second half to take it to 53 international markets.