Baby products maker to launch outdoor wear for children

Zero to Seven, a Korean maker of baby products, plans to launch a line of children`s outdoor wear, CEO Kim Jeong-Min said Monday.

"We`re planning to release clothing, shoes and accessories targeting children between ages 3 and 10," he said. On his new business, Kim said, "We took note of the rising market for family-centered outdoor products. We`ve worked aggressively over the past year to make products that can satisfy both children and parents."

A subsidiary of Maeil Dairies, Zero to Seven was listed on the tech-heavy KOSDAQ market in a competition ratio of 750:1 in last month. A latecomer that started business in 2000, the company has shown annual average growth of 28.5 percent over the past five years, which contributed to its listing. Zero to Seven is one of the country`s two largest companies in children`s supplies. Kim, the third son of the late Maeil founder Kim Bok-yong, has led the company since 2008.

"Investors seemed to have highly evaluated our China business. We spend half of the year overseas, including in China, for our global business," Kim Jeong-min said. Allo & Lugh, the company`s key children`s wear brand, operates 167 stores in China since entering the Chinese market in 2009. The plan is to expand to 220 stores this year.

bright@donga.com