Convenience Retail Asia has said it plans to gain a stronger foothold in the Dongguan and Shenzhen regions of southern China, followed by expansion into Beijing and Shanghai.

The company has 16 Circle K c-stores in Guangzhou and it plans to spend HKD40m ($5.1m), opening 60 shops in 2005.

CR Asia also plans to spend HKD30m ($3.8m) opening 40 new stores in Hong Kong in 2005. It currently has over 200 stores in Hong Kong, which equates to a 30% shares of its convenience store market, second to the 7-Eleven chain.