Taiwan-based food manufacture Uni-President Group opened its new factory in the city of Kunshan on the Chinese mainland Monday, Beijing Business Today reported.

Uni-President invested a total of US$105.6 million in the new base in the southeastern Chinese city. The Taiwan company has invested a factory in Kunshan in 1993, producing beverages and instant noodles.

Uni-President stepped up its capacity expansion plans in the Chinese mainland since 2010 in an effort to compete against Master Kong. Chairman Luo Zhixian said in early 2010 that his company planned to invest 1 billion yuan (US$158.4 million) in the following two and a half years to boost capacity.

In October 2010, Uni-President invested US$43 million in a beverage production base in Guangdong Province's Suixi county and another US$100 million in a branch in Shandong Province's Jinan city.

China's business press carried the story above on Tuesday.

Contact the writer of this story at: yanp@china.org.cn.