Tesco have announced plans to expand the F&F clothing brand internationally, with more than 50 new franchise stores set to open over the next five years.
The stores will be located in new markets in the Middle East, including Armenia, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Azerbaijan. F&F will work with two leading franchise operators to launch the new stores, thereby extending the relationship with existing partner Al Hokair and announcing a new partnership with Dubai-based Al Futtaim. The first franchised F&F store opened in Saudi Arabia in May 2012, with the new stores expected to follow a similar model.
Jason Tarry, chief executive of F&F said, “We’ve had a strong year and our combination of good quality and contemporary design appeals to customers across the world. I’m excited to see F&F moving into these new markets, where there is an established and growing retail industry."
“Franchising enables us to combine the strength of the F&F brand with the local knowledge and expertise of our partners. This announcement builds on the success of the first franchise stores and demonstrates our commitment to growing the brand internationally through this model - I’m confident these new deals will accelerate our growth.”
Launched in the UK & ROI in 2001, F&F clothing is currently on sale in 12 countries, with stand-alone stores in Poland and the Czech Republic. Sales of the brand in the UK exceeded £1 billion in 2012, with 9% growth during the year.
