US clothing chain ‘opening 10 new stores’ in UK this year in major expansion
Abercrombie & Fitch is planning to open “between eight and ten new stores” in the UK this year, according to reports.
The US clothing chain already has ten stores in the UK, but is looking to double this number by opening new outlets in high street and shopping centre locations, including in London’s Kensington High Street. It comes after Abercrombie & Fitch opened the doors to its latest two London sites, located in Oxford Street and Covent Garden, last month.
Abercrombie & Fitch EMEA managing director Scott Clarke-Bryan told Drapers: “We will accelerate our store expansion this year. We want to be in the very best locations [and] we are really excited that we’ll be coming to Kensington High Street.”
Abercrombie & Fitch also has shops in London’s Carnaby Street, Battersea Power Station and Westfield London, alongside branches in Edinburgh and Manchester, plus outlet stores in Ashford and Cheshire Oaks. The fashion brand is also looking to open new stores in Germany and the Middle East.
But Abercrombie & Fitch is not the only retailer that is planning on opening new stores this year. The Range plans to open ten new superstores each month in 2025 and is currently in the process of converting former Homebase sites after taking them on after the chain fell into administration last year.
Last year, Co-Op announced that it planned to open a further 75 new supermarket stores over the next 12 months as part of its expansion plans. The new stores will consist of up to 25 new Co-op operated locations. Holland & Barrett has said it plans to open a further 50 stores, which includes standalone stores, new formats and in-store concessions with retail partners.
Waterstones plans to open at least a dozen new bookshops this year, while B&Q is set to open more stores as part of its “Local” format over the next 12 months. Aldi is aiming to open at least 30 new stores this year and Lidl wants to open around 40 new sites over the next financial year.
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