Barbie Shanghai teams up with celebrity chef-restaurateur
The world's first Barbie flagship store in Shanghai is teaming up with Australian celebrity chef David Laris to operate three gourmet outlets, US toy maker Mattel said Friday.
Shoppers at the six-floor concept store opened in March this year are now invited to dine at the Barbie Cafe, visit tea house Pink Room, and late-night B Bar, Mattel said in a statement.
Shanghai-based chef David Laris is renowned for his award-winning Laris restaurant at the city's landmark Three On The Bund, as well as the Chocolate Room, a luxury chocolate brand and cafe and delicatessen chain Slice.
"As a brand, I am inspired by Barbie to constantly stay relevant, fashionable and hip," Laris said in the statement.
Barbie Cafe, an all-day restaurant occupying the entire top floor, will offer western foods "with an added feminine touch", featuring "healthy, natural ingredients with house-made sauces and seasonings", Mattel said.
The Shanghai store was a crucial step in Mattel's efforts to make China the Barbie's number one market in five to ten years after the doll lost its shine in other parts of the world, with global sales down 21 percent in the fourth quarter.
China currently accounts for about 2.5 percent of the brand's global sales, Richard Dickson, who is in charge of the Barbie brand for Mattel, told AFP at the opening of the store.
Copyright 2009 AFP Global Edition
