Frasers Group reveals plans for raft of new Flannels openings

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Aug 23, 2022

UK retail giant Frasers Group is continuing with its ambitious expansion plans for the high-end Flannels chain and on Tuesday announced the next cohort of store openings for the banner.

It said that Leeds, Cardiff, and Gateshead’s Metrocentre will be the next locations for new Flannels flagship stores. The newly-announced locations will each cover at least 80,000 sq ft.

This follows the retail brand’s debuts in Sheffield Meadowhall, Leicester Fosse Park and most recently Liverpool.

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The company said that its “trailblazing” strategy for Flannels so far has been a success and “continues to go from strength” to position the brand “at the forefront of luxury retail in the UK”.

And it’s hard to argue with that given the heavy investment Frasers is pumping into the chain at a time when many retail companies are seeking to cut store opening costs and grappling with the uncertainty that surrounds the future of physical retail in Britain.

The company’s opening programme also shows how big the untapped appetite for luxury fashion in many regional UK cities is. Recent results from Frasers Group has called out Flannels in particular as being a growth driver for the firm.

Upbeat Frasers CEO Michael Murray said: “Our plans to expand with a series of new experience-orientated flagships, demonstrates how we’re doubling down on our commitment to ‘new luxury’ and bringing world-class experiences to untapped markets. Our expansion plans not only demonstrate the confidence we have in our strategy, but they also show our continued belief in the future of the UK’s high streets, which through our stores, we aim to re-ignite.”