Womenswear retailer Monsoon is understood to be plotting a roll-out of as many as 1,000 stores in China within the next five years.
Monsoon, which made its debut in China in 2008 and at present has nine stores there, was said by sources familiar with the situation already to be planning hundreds more shops and further growth down the line.
A Monsoon spokesman confirmed the retailer intends to expand in China through a subsidiary but would not comment on planned store numbers.
It is understood that the shops will carry both clothing and accessories under the Monsoon and Accessorize brands. The roll-out will be overseen by Monsoon’s regional controller for the Far East, Dan Poppleton.
The ambitious plans are the latest international venture for Monsoon, which is opening five stores in the US this year and has continued to expand globally, notably in Russia and the Middle East.
China is a key growth market for fashion retailers. Marks & Spencer, Mango and Hugo Boss are among those plotting expansion there.
Accounts posted at Companies House this week showed Monsoon made sales of £540m and pre-tax profits of £27.9m in the year to August 29, 2009, against sales of £632m and profit of £54.6m in the non-comparable 66-week period to August 30, 2008.
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