On May 30, the “press conference of official sponsors for the Queen’s 90th birthday celebration” co-hosted by Sanpower Group and the British Consulate-General in Shanghai kicked off at Sanpower Group’s Headquarters Building, which was attended by Yue Lei, Senior Vice President of Sanpower Group; Tony Clemson, Deputy Consul-General of the British Consulate-General in Shanghai; Huang Jiaqiang, CEO of Hamleys China; Kong Jun, CEO of HOF China.

This is Tony Clemson’s first destination away from Shanghai after he took up the new post. He said he bought his first suit exactly at House of Fraser when he was young. Meanwhile, according to related sources at Sanpower Group, the first China-based stores of House of Fraser and Hamleys China will both open in Xinjiekou of Nanjing, the top shopping destination in China. The first China-based store of Hamleys will become the largest freestanding toy store in China.

On 15 May local time, the grand 90th birthday celebration for Queen Elizabeth II of the UK was held in Windsor Castle in the UK. The British royals attended the event to celebrate the Queen’s birthday. On 14 June, the British Consulate-General in Shanghai will hold a refreshing British cream tea party to celebrate the Queen’s birthday. As the partner of this event, Sanpower Group will be present at the venue together with the two British brands, House of Fraser and Hamleys.

According to Tony Clemson, Deputy Consul-General of the British Consulate-General in Shanghai, there will be more than 800 guests invited to attend the tea party, where both dainty British refreshments and various entertainments will be served. What is also worth mentioning is that the British Consulate-General in Shanghai hopes to make this tea party, held in celebration of the Queen’s birthday, the grandest British tea party, of which the number of attendees will break the world record.

Since Nanjing Cenbest controlled by Sanpower Group acquired the established department store, House of Fraser, which is authorised by the British royal family, Sanpower has been engaging in constant communication with the UK. A year ago, Sanpower Group became the partner for the “GREAT Festival of Creativity” in the UK, an event organised by the British Consulate-General in Shanghai. It was during this event that Yuan Yafei, Chairman of Sanpower Group, and Prince William of the UK came to agree on co-founding the Wildlife Protection Foundation. In October last year, Sanpower Group and the Royal Foundation of the UK co-signed a memorandum of understanding to officially advance the cause of wildlife protection. In March this year, Yue Lei, Senior Vice President of Sanpower Group was elected to be the first Chinese image ambassador of United for Wildlife (UFW) and started to advance wildlife protection for the common good together with Prince William, David Beckham and other public figures of the UK.

Out of its profound friendships with the UK and its royal family, Sanpower Group plays a proactive role in the British tea party held by the British Consulate-General in Shanghai to celebrate the Queen’s birthday. Not only will Sanpower itself be present at the party, it will also bring the two British brands, House of Fraser and Hamleys, which are closely related to Sanpower, to celebrate the Queen’s birthday. Coincidentally, House of Fraser debuted in China exactly at the GREAT Festival of Creativity last year, while the toy store of Hamleys will make its debut in China this year at the tea party, which is held to celebrate the Queen’s birthday.

According to sources in Sanpower Group, the two established British brands, House of Fraser and Hamleys, will enter the Chinese market this autumn and open their first China-based stores respectively in Xinjiekou of Nanjing. Now the preparation for the opening of the stores is coming to a close.

Orient Fraser, first China-based store of Hamleys China, Brookstone and so on are all main stores in strategic partnership with Sanpower Plaza. In the future, Sanpower Plaza will integrate the high-end department store, hanging garden, aquarium, luxurious cinema, children’s amusements and other businesses into a commercial complex providing shoppers the “relax & recreation” lifestyle experience.

After the press conference, Yuan Yafei, Chairman of Sanpower Group met privately with Mr. Tony Clemson. The two of them had a cordial conversation. Mr. Tony Clemson warmly invited Yuan Yafei to the Queen’s birthday celebration on 14 June. The two sides also discussed issues about wildlife protection. The first projects funded by the Wildlife Protection Foundation established by Yuan Yafei and Prince William have been started in Africa this year. Two animal observation and protection stations have been set up in Kenya and Botswana in the aim of improving the staff’s competence and the facilities, and enhancing the training for patrols and guards. Mr. Tony Clemson said Prince William will go to Africa to promote the idea of wildlife conservation in the second half of this year. Yuan Yafei noted that Sanpower Group will also pay constant attention to wildlife conservation for the common good and are willing to contribute to this cause.