Press releases
80% of Inditex new openings for FY2007 were in international markets
12.02.2008
* The retail area of the Group in FY2007 amounted to approximately
two million square meters through 3,691 stores in 68 countries
* Inditex opened 560 new stores, 441 outside Spain
* Asia-Pacific (32%), Eastern Europe (61%) and Russia (65%) were the regions with the largest increase in retail area
* Inditex presence has experienced strong growth in the main European markets, especially in Italy and France
* Inditex concepts opened stores in 50 countries. Four new markets were entered: Croatia, Colombia, Guatemala and Oman
* Store openings in four new markets -Korea, Ukraine, Egypt and Montenegro- are expected over 2008
2007 Openings Inditex Group
| | As at 31st January 2008 | Growth in 2007 | Increase vs. 06 |
| In m2 | 1,914,493 | 257,195 | 16% |
| In no. stores | 3,691 | 560 |
Retail area as at year end
Inditex has ended FY2007 (FYE 31st January 2008) with 3,691 stores in 68 countries. Retail area has grown by 16% during FY2007 to reach 1.914.493m2. 80% of 560 Inditex new openings for FY2007 were in international markets.
Among the new openings, the following may be underscored:
· 32% growth in retail area in the Asia-Pacific region through 25 new stores,
· 65% growth in retail area in Russia, reaching 50 stores through 21 new stores,
· 98 openings in the Italian market, where all Inditex concepts are present.
All the concepts of the Group have contributed to the international expansion. With this respect, the multi-concept growth in Russia and Eastern Europe should be highlighted. As a result, Russia, Poland, Romania, Hungary and Serbia end the fiscal year with stores of five or more concepts of Inditex.
Stores per concept in 2007
| No. STORES AS AT 31.01.08 | NET OPENINGS 2007 | COUNTRIES WHERE IT IS PRESENT | NEW MARKETS IN 2007 | |
| ZARA | 1,131 | 141 | 68 | 5 |
| KIDDY'S CLASS | 230 | 45 | 5 | - |
| PULL AND BEAR | 519 | 52 | 35 | 8 |
| MASSIMO DUTTI | 426 | 27 | 32 | 3 |
| BERSHKA | 510 | 77 | 35 | 11 |
| STRADIVARIUS | 381 | 77 | 24 | 5 |
| OYSHO | 290 | 89 | 22 | 10 |
| ZARA HOME | 204 | 52 | 20 | 5 |
New markets 07 / 08
Over 2007 Inditex has opened stores in 50 different countries. Four new markets have been entered –Croatia, Colombia, Guatemala and Oman- and the Group is now present in a total of 68 markets. All concepts have increased their presence in international markets.
In 2008 Inditex will expand in four new markets: Korea, Ukraine, Egypt and Montenegro. The first opening will be for Zara in Ukraine. A store located at Khreshatik, the main shopping street in Kiev, is expected by April. Further openings in Ukraine are expected over the year for other concepts of the Group. Given its size and economic prospects, Ukraine is considered by the company as a market with high potential to carry out its business. Also in Eastern Europe and during the Fall-Winter season, the first stores will be opened in Montenegro.
Significant milestones for 2008 in Asia-Pacific will be the first store opening in the Korean market and the on-going expansion in China and Japan. Those three countries, given their economic relevance and their potential for Inditex growth are the main bid of the Group in a region where the growth pace for Inditex sales area is two fold the average increase in the world. The first opening in Seoul is expected in May.
Regarding China, during 2008 the Group will increase its presence in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Macau and Hangzhou and will also extent it to other capitals such as Tianjin, Nanjing, Harbin and Shenzhen.
Finally, within the selective expansion policy as regards new markets, Inditex has resolved to start operating in Egypt in 2008. With a population upwards of 80 millions, Egypt has shown in recent years a highly positive evolution of its economic indicators, with an estimated GDP growth for 2007 of more than 7%.