Sunset over China's taste for imported goods met by retail giant

Sales of imported goods last year at Chinese branches of Walmart Inc, one of the world's leading retailers, doubled those of 2014, according to the company.

"Chinese people have developed habits of consumption that are in accordance with international practice. They will send imported cookies to friends and use overseas snacks for gatherings during important occasions," said Marybeth Hays, chief merchandising, marketing and supply chain officer of Walmart China.

Sales of Danisa butter cookies, for example, will increase by 35 percent year-on-year at Walmart stores during the Spring Festival, which falls on Feb 8, according to the company.

"We will import more goods to meet the growing demand from local buyers during the Spring Festival," said Hays.

Walmart China has prepared more than 4,000 varieties of imported goods from nearly 20 countries and regions for the festival, according to the company.

Walmart, which entered China in 1996, has more than 430 outlets across the country, tapping the potential of China's second- and third-tier cities with "great management and high-quality commodities and services".

It has opened outlets in Erdos in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Xianning in Hubei province and Yiliang county in Yunnan province.