Aggressive store opening plan to continue
Jaeger revealed that EBITDA rocketed 45 per cent to£5 million in the 52 weeks to February 28, following significant investment in expanding and refurbishing its store portfolio.

Sales soared 22 per cent to£70.6 million, compared with£58.1 million the previous year. The retailer said that it opened 16 stores last year and a further 10 have opened since the end of the year. It operates from 137 UK and European stores, including freestanding stores, shop-in-shops and outlets.

Jaeger said it plans to accelerate international growth over the next two years, doubling its number of overseas stores to 80, with further expansion planned after that. The brand will also enter eight markets, including the US, South Asia, Australia and Eastern Europe.

Jaeger group chief executive Belinda Earl said: 'This has been an extremely significant year for the ongoing revival of the Jaeger brand with growth in all areas of the business. We have a robust programme of store openings and further plans to expand the product offer at home and overseas.'

The retailer said that the strength of the business has been enhanced by the expansion of Jaeger London and the launch of Jaeger Black. Earl said: 'Jaeger Online and our re-entry into the US have given us footholds in two important markets for future brand acceleration.

'Later this year we have the launch of our exclusively designed womenswear collection for Saks Fifth Avenue, New York City and the UK launch of our Jaeger London fragrance. This continues our overall strategy to reposition Jaeger as a contemporary, luxury UK brand, while strengthening our customer reach.'

Fashion entrepreneur Harold Tillman acquired Jaeger in 2003 and appointed Earl, the former chief executive of Debenhams, in 2004.

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