Football entrepreneur opens one-stop shop for would-be retail investors in China

Kevin McCabe, the property entrepreneur and owner of Sheffield United, has set up a company designed as a "one-stop shop" for UK and European retailers looking to expand into China.

McCabe's property company, Scarborough Group International, has formed a joint venture with AVIC International Shenzhen of China. Called ScarVic Retail Management, it will co-invest with retailers, represent them in China, advise on selection of cities to suit their brands, provide logistics, organise local manufacturing of their products and, if required, also provide corporate and tax planning services.

The joint venture will be headed by Jack Lou of AVIC, Susan Tham of Scarborough in China, and McCabe's son Simon in London. Negotiations are already under way with four prospective UK and European retailers, mainly fashion chains.

Simon McCabe said: "There is already a significant number of major European retail brands in China, ranging from Carrefour supermarkets to the high-end jewellery and fashion retailers; however, there is still a huge number unrepresented, who will find our services can help demystify the complexities of establishing a retail brand in China."

Scarborough, along with Kevin McCabe's old business partner CH Wong of Top Spring, and AVIC are key investors in Rainbow Department Stores, which runs over 40 department stores in China and listed on the Shenzhen stock exchange a year ago.