Vitaminstore, a Dutch health store chain, opened its first Chinese outlet over the weekend in Xiamen, in eastern China's Fujian province.

With 20 health stores in all major cities in the Netherlands, Vitaminstore is a major provider of food supplements, sports nutrition and natural cosmetics in its home country.

"Our company has always had a strong bond with China. Europeans respect Chinese culture and its ancient ways to stay healthy and fit," said Alain Vermeulen, co-founder and managing director of Vitaminstore China.

"There is a great mixture of young professionals, highly educated executives, foreign companies and a large Taiwanese community in Xiamen, so it is an ideal place to open our first store."

Vitaminstore plans to open 300 stores across China in the coming years. The construction of its first Shanghai store is currently under way.