Focus on food and family

Amid an intensifying market environment, Taubman Centers has taken a series of steps to create unique advantages to improve consumers’ experience and maintain competitive strengths in its shopping malls in China.

Data from the Yingshang Data Center show more than 800 shopping centers will open across the country in 2017.

Robert Taubman, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Taubman Centers, said their projects in China are full of local characteristics that meet local demand, such as family needs and a diverse array of food.

“One important factor in our design is meeting children’s needs,” Taubman said. “In the center, there are a lot of entertainment facilities for children. We also have at least 15 brands for children.

“With large public spaces and good light, we believe that the shopping center will be an important destination for family leisure and entertainment.”

As part of efforts to incorporate local characteristics, the center also houses more food and beverage stores.

“Food culture is an important part of Asian culture,” he said. “We found that Chinese families like to eat outside, so we arranged for more than 50 food brands to join the center, including more than 20 fast food brands and more than 20 restaurants. These will be important food destinations for families.”

According to Taubman, the dining area in the CityOn. Zhengzhou Shopping Center accounts for 30 percent of the total space, while the proportion in Taubman’s other malls in the United States is about 12 to 15 percent.