(Yicai) July 21 -- LAN Zhenzhen, Chief Corporate Affairs and Engagement Officer, L'Oreal North Asia & China, said in an interview with Yicai at the third China International Supply Chain Expo that the French cosmetics giant was committed to China's supply chain innovations.

L'Oréal's supply chain thrives on connections, with every link from research and development labs to factories and distribution centers working in synergy to respond to consumers' pursuit of beauty, she said at the CISCE on July 17.

L'Oréal was the only foreign beauty company attending this year's CISCE, which was held in Beijing from July 16 to 20. Under the theme "Connected With Beauty" — which emphasizes empathy and centricity toward consumers, empowerment of the industry ecosystem, and win-win collaboration between China and the global market — the firm showcased its supply chain innovations.

Chinese consumers' high standards have driven the creation of a unique supply chain model unrivaled globally, enabling efficient deliveries even on weekends, a stark contrast to many international markets, Lan noted.

L'Oréal has been building its end-to-end value chain in China for over 28 years, reaching a remarkable efficiency of 99 percent, with direct consumer parcels delivered within 2.4 days, even during peak sales periods, such as the Double 11 shopping festival.​

Notably, the socio-economic impact of L'Oréal's presence in China extends far beyond its own operations. Based on an independent third-party study, one L’Oréal job in China creates 20 jobs in its wider economy along the value chain including beauty service, logistics, raw materials sourcing, medical, etc., bringing significant socio-economic benefits to the China market.

The company recently invested in an intelligent fulfillment center in Suzhou that integrates automation, digitization, and sustainability, serving mass, active health, and professional haircare lines, and a smart operations center in Nantong, which focuses on premium brands, to form a Shanghai-Suzhou-Nantong smart operations triangle to enhance its responsiveness to diverse consumer needs, Lan said.​

She outlined three strategic priorities for L'Oréal's supply chain in China: more efficient local responsiveness through smart systems, deeper personalized engagement via data and tech, and closer collaboration with local partners, along with support for their global expansion.

Such collaboration is exemplified by Beukay, a company founded in China that has been a L’Oréal supplier in the makeup category since 2014. Starting with partnerships for Maybelline and L’Oréal Paris, Beukay’s innovative formulas are now applied to a range of brands including NYX, 3CE, UD, Lancôme, and Valentino.

Moreover, Lan praised China for its role as L'Oréal's global innovation hub and supply chain powerhouse, adding that the company's confidence in the Chinese market remains unshakable and it will continue to take innovation and sustainability as engines to co-create a better future with local partners and customers.

During the CISCE, L'Oréal signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the China Association for Bar Code Technology and Application to promote global standards for cosmetic two-dimensional codes, advancing industry digitalization. It also hosted the Beauty Ways forum, discussing supply chain innovation and insights for Chinese enterprises going global.

Editor: Futura Costaglione