Joe Fresh to expand globally
Toronto - Loblaw Companies Ltd. and its affiliates, the owners of Joe Fresh, have signed three separate partnership agreements that bring the brand into 23 new countries. The agreements cover markets in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, and South Korea.
The partnerships represent the first expansion for Joe Fresh beyond North America. The international agreements encompass the Joe Fresh women's, men's and children's lines.
Fawaz A. Alhokair & Co., based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is the partner for the Joe Fresh expansion into 17 countries in the Middle East, North Africa and Europe including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Macedonia, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Belarus, Armenia, Serbia and Spain. Under terms of the agreement, the company plans to open at least 96 stores by 2018 in those markets, including 40 in Saudi Arabia alone. The first stores scheduled to open are in Saudi Arabia by summer 2014.
Retail Arabia International, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is the partner for five countries in the Middle East including United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. The company plans to open at least 15 stores by 2018 including nine in the UAE. The first stores are slated to open in the UAE later this year.
Origin & Co. Ltd., based on Seoul, South Korea, is the partner for South Korea. The company plans to open up to 30 Joe Fresh retail locations in high traffic shopping districts, malls and department stores over the next five years. One of the first units will open in the Lotte World Mall this spring. The company plans to open a flagship store in Seoul later this year.
"These first international agreements signify an important milestone for Joe Fresh as we build on the strong foundation we've established at home in Canada,” said Joe Mimran, creative director of Joe Fresh. “We continue to evolve the brand forward and I'm thrilled to see Joe Fresh grow into a global brand, developing on the success we have had in the U.S. since launching there in 2011.”