The Italian fashion retailer Benetton has opened its largest store in the world in Shanghai. The 3,000 sq metre outlet covers four storeys of a building on Huaihai Road and is the group's first megastore in China. Benetton joins several other European fashion companies that are targeting the China market. In September, Giorgio Armani said it planned to open 20-30 boutiques in the country within three to five years. Asia's largest mall opens in Shanghai Thailand's Chia Tai Group held the official opening ceremony of its Shanghai shopping mall in October. Super Brand Mall, located in the Lujiazui district of Pudong on the east bank of the Huangpu River, is said to be the largest shopping centre in Asia. Since the mall actually opened for business in July, 90 per cent of its space has been let. However, only about half of the 350 tenants have so far opened stores or booths
The Charoen group also operates four Lotus superstores in Shanghai.