Avon opens Shanghai R&D centre
40,000 square foot building will be completed in late 2010
Avon has announced plans to open a state-of-the-art regional research and development centre in Shanghai, China. The new centre will be Avon's largest R&D facility outside of the US. The 40,000 square foot building will house scientific experts in the areas of product development, safety and quality testing, microbiology, chemical engineering and consumer research. Avon hopes the centre will allow it to grow and leverage its R&D alliances in China as well as hire and retain world-class scientists.
"We believe that our expanded R&D presence in China will enable us to be closer to consumers and ensure that we leverage our scientific talent effectively to meet the needs of Chinese women," commented Avon's chairman and ceo, Andrea Jung.
The company already has R&D facilities in Argentina, Brazil, China, Japan, Mexico, Poland and South Africa as well as in Guangzhou, China. The new Shanghai centre will chiefly serve China but will also help support other markets in the Asia Pacific region and is expected to open in late 2010.
