Lululemon banks on China for growth

Athletic apparel brand Lululemon Athletica Inc is banking on China as its top growth engine abroad, planning an expansion that would make the country its second-largest market globally by 2026.

With 138 stores in 41 cities, the company is rapidly scaling its reach in response to Chinese customers' rising interest in health, wellness, and active lifestyles.

"China is our biggest international market and is set to become our second-largest worldwide," said Andre Maestrini, Lululemon's executive vice-president of international, who was in Shanghai earlier this week for the China International Import Expo.