Zalando has recorded rising sales in the first quarter in which all markets in which it operates were fully reopened.

Zalando and Adidas

Zalando and Adidas

The German fashion platform reported gross merchandise volume up 25.3% to €3.1bn (£2.6bn) in its third quarter, while revenues jumped 23.4% to €2.3bn (£1.9bn).

Zalando’s adjusted EBIT was €9.8m for the same period, and has thus raised its profit guidance for the full year period - it now expects GMV growth of 31-36%, revenue growth of 26-31% and adjusted EBIT in the upper half of guided €400-475m range.

The fashion retailer said that it had made great progress against its strategic agenda to grow its active customer base, deepen customer relationships, transition towards a platform business, and work towards a more sustainable future.

Zalando’s active customer base grew 30.1% year-on-year to 46.3 million by the end of the third quarter with average orders per active customer reaching a new all-time high at 5.1 over the year.

Partnerships are the key to growth

The retailer has also built up its partnerships with key brands to create a platform model, including Adidas, Levi’s, Dr. Martens and The North Face, and has focused on its sustainability initiatives including recycling facilities and its pre-owned offering.

Zalando co-chief executive Robert Gertz said: ”Throughout the year we progressed strongly across all areas of our strategy, always keeping our focus on our long-term vision to be the Starting Point for Fashion and build a truly sustainable platform business with more than €30bn euros in GMV by 2025.

”We are looking confidently ahead into 2022, with several strategic initiatives in the pipeline that will excite customers and partners alike and push our sustainability agenda further forward.”