Fast Retailing’s slow U.S. expansion

Japanese apparel retailer Fast Retailing remains deliberate in its approach to growth of its Uniqlo brand in the U.S. with plans for five more stores by mid-year.

There are currently 1,300 Uniqlo locations worldwide in 13 countries, but only 17 stores in the U.S. The five new stores the company is adding this spring and summer will be located in King of Prussia, Pa., Stamford, Conn., and Daly City, Concord, and Milpitas, Calif. The company’s other existing stores are clustered in the Northeast with and northern California.

“We are thrilled to announce our newest store openings and are eager to bring the Uniqlo experience to even more communities throughout the United States,” said Larry Meyer, CEO of Uniqlo USA and Fast Retailing Group SVP. “Our universal products, every day basics of exceptional value, world class customer service and modern, bright stores will create a brand new group of Uniqlo fans.”

In the fall, Uniqlo plans to open an undisclosed number of stores in markets such as Philadelphia, Boston and Los Angeles/Southern California.

Uniqlo may not be commenting on the number of stores it plans to open, but parent company Fast Retailing is currently the world’s fourth largest apparel retailer and Uniqlo is Japan’s leading specialty chain so the company is certainly capable of a more meaningful acceleration of its U.S. expansion.