JP/24/W03

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Traditional cosmetics maker Martha Tilaar Group plans to open three spas in Brunei, Singapore, and the Middle East as part of its expansion program, founder and company president Martha Tilaar said.

Martha said that the spa in Brunei would be opened in December, while the other two spas would be opened in mid-2002.

"We're glad to open spas abroad. We're confident with our traditional concept spa to go back to nature," she told the Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

She added that the overseas spas would be managed by respected local partners under a franchising contract.

Martha said that her company also planned to expand its Puri Ayu customer service and sales counters by opening up to 16 new outlets in Malaysia next year.

At present, the company has two Puri Ayu counters in Kuala Lumpur.

The company also plans to open two more spas at home next year, one in Denpasar, and another in Surabaya to add to the seven spas and 80 beauty saloons it already owns.

Martha Tilaar is one of the leading traditional cosmetic makers in the country, claiming to control up to 40 percent of the domestic cosmetics market.

The company expects sales this year to grow by 20 percent from Rp 500 billion (US$50 million) last year.