Cotton On eyes $2bn in yearly sales, plans UK entry

By

Benjamin Fitzgerald

Published
Sep 12, 2016

Cotton On group predicts sales will reach AU$2 billion (US$1.5 billion) in fiscal 2016, on the back of agressive global expansion plans.

The Australian apparel and lifestyle group -- operator of Cotton On, Supré and Typo brands -- said it would open another 250 stores globally this financial year, pushing total revenue past $2 billion. And for the first time, the majority of sales would come from outside of Australia, the group's CEO told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"While there continues to be growth in the Australian market through all of our brands and also the e-commerce channel, the reality is that they'll be greater opportunities throughout the rest of the world," CEO, Peter Johnson, told SMH.

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The group's next major step is trying to break into the United Kingdom and then Europe. The group's debut Typo store will open in the UK before Christmas, he said.

Meanwhile, Cotton On has plans to inject $40 million into a new stock distribution centre at the nearby Avalon Airport, in Geelong, Victoria. The new centre will be able to process 300,000 products a day and improve delivery of online orders, said Johnson.

Cotton On group already has stores in markets such as the Middle East, South Africa and North America.