Shopping Centers Today is the news magazine of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
Issue link: https://sct.epubxp.com/i/331061
36 S C T / J u l y 2 0 1 4 Tesco makes second attempt to crack U.S. market U.K. retailer Tesco is returning to the U.S. with a value-price ap- parel concept called F&F.; Tesco, which launched F&F; in the U.K. and Ireland in 2001, is set to open seven of these on the East Coast this year in conjunction with U.S. franchise partner Retail Group of America. The stores will offer women's, men's and children's cloth- ing, with the first store scheduled to open next month, near Boston. Four stores will follow in New York City, plus others in Philadelphia and Newport News, Va. "We're delighted to be bringing F&F;'s range of affordable fashion to customers in the U.S.A. this year, including four stores in one of the world's fashion and shopping capitals, New York," said Jason Tarry, chief executive of F&F.; "We've had a really positive response from customers in all of our overseas markets, so we're hoping our American stores prove to be just as popular. F&F; is fast becoming a true global brand, with franchise stores in 10 coun- tries around the world and more planned for the future." The U.S. stores will open at Exton Square (Pa.) Mall; Holyoke Mall at Ingleside, near Springfield, Mass.; Palisades Center, West Nyack, N.Y.; Pat- rick Henry Mall, Newport News, Va.; South Shore Mall, Bay Shore, N.Y.; Sunrise Mall, Massapequa, N.Y.; and Trumbull (Conn.) Mall. Tesco opened the first F&F; stand-alone store in Prague, Czech Republic, in 2010. F&F; currently has stores in 21 countries. Tesco tried without success to launch a supermarket business called Fresh & Easy in the U.S. in 2007 and pulled the plug on the opera- tion last year after failing to gain market share. — JG West Coast markets. Sainsbury also sold its Shaw grocery stores amid disappointing results in the U.S. "It takes time to understand new markets," Bourbeau said. "You have to be willing to make tweaks to your product offerings and some- times your sizes, advertising, marketing and other factors to ensure success. It's important to be conservative for the first few years, because that allows you to be patient and flexible." But British retailers keep on crossing the Atlantic. Top- shop, which operates four U.S. stores, announced plans in February to open at an Atlanta location by 2015. The fash- ion chain reportedly plans to open four additional stores around the country as well. Meanwhile, Japanese retailer Uniqlo appears to have scored a hit with U.S. shoppers by offering familiar merchandise under a new and somewhat exotic brand name, Skrbin says. "Uniqlo has 17 stores in the United States and just announced plans to open five more — three in California, one in Connecticut and one in Pennsyl- vania," she said. "They are similar to Gap. Everybody loves the basics, so long as it is high quality and will last. Even high-end customers appreciate value, which is why Target ap- peals to all income levels." The Parisian high-fashion retailer Iro is also embarking on a sizable rollout of new stateside stores, Skrbin says. "They are definitely popular in New York and on the East Coast as well as here in California," she said. "They have one store in New York and plan to open 20 more stores in the U.S. by the end of 2015." Moving forward, the economic recovery bodes well for landlords and leasing teams interested in doing deals with expanding global chains, Skrbin says. "Now that things seem to be picking up, there are a lot more tenants doing deals in general," she said. "And that includes interna- tional retailers coming to the U.S." S C T 32-36_SCT_JUL14_Cover international brands coming to USA.indd 36 6/12/14 5:53 PM