Japanese cosmetic company Kao is accelerating its global expansion with the first Molton Brown flagship store in Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur. 

The launch is in collaboration with Valiram and part of Molton Brown’s strategy to grow its omni-channel presence in Malaysia, as well as other Asian markets such as Singapore, Thailand, and Hong Kong later this year.

“We are excited to see Molton Brown grow outside of our primary markets and become a go-to destination for luxury fragrance in key Asian countries,” said Mark Johnson, president of cosmetics business AEMEA at Kao and global president at Molton Brown. 

“We are seeing a lot of growth potential in this region as the brand resonates extremely well with consumers, matching their values and priorities of high quality, exceptional customer experience and an innovative, sustainable product offering.”

Molton Brown is taking an omnichannel approach, focusing on providing a superior customer experience across all touchpoints, including e-commerce, wholesale, travel retail, and standalone locations. As part of this strategy, the company intends to grow its business in Malaysia by launching an e-commerce portal and expanding its premium hotel amenities offering. 

Molton Brown, founded in 1971 in London, produces perfumes as well as bath and body, skin, and hair care products. In 2005, Kao Corporation bought Molton Brown for £170 million.

Further reading: Sensai to open first flagship store in Shanghai