Harvey Nichols to open in Istanbul

Unitim, a leading Istanbul based business group, has signed an exclusive licence agreement with Harvey Nichols Group for Turkey and is due to open its first store this September. Harvey Nichols will make its debut in Istanbul 's much -awaited Kanyon Shopping Mall constructed by Eczacibasi Group and Is GYO jointventure which bring this ambitious project to life with its state of the art design. Scheduled to open in September 2006 and will spread over 8,000 sqm, the Harvey Nichols store will represent a diverse portfolio of exclusive brands in fashion, fragrance, beauty and home and will include a gourmet food market and fine dining restaurants, bar and cafe.

With the acquisition of the exclusive licence for the Harvey Nichols brand, Unitim continues the extension of its high-end lifestyle portfolio that includes some of the world's leading names in fashion, jewellery, beauty and fragrances. "We are delighted to announce our partnership with the world-renowned Harvey Nichols Group, at the prestigious Kanyon Levent. It is our endeavor to make a firm commitment to bringing the best brands to Turkey and strengthen its image as the premier global destination for shopping and tourism," said Burç Cemiloglu, Chairman and CEO of Unitim Group.

The Harvey Nichols store at Kanyon Levent will be the fifth extension outside the UK , after the exclusive stores in Riyadh , Hong Kong , Dublin and Dubai. Commenting on the partnership, Joseph Wan, Chief Executive at Harvey Nichols said, "We are pleased to be associated with a dynamic and distinguished group like Unitim, who shares our vision of creating a successful retail environment for luxury brands for a discerning audience. We see huge potential for the retail sector in Turkey , and are confident that Harvey Nichols will experience immense success with Unitim."

Harvey Nichols started in 1813 and is today the UK 's premier fashion retailer, renowned both in the UK and internationally for the breadth and depth of its exclusive fashion merchandise. It offers many of the world's most prestigious brands in womenswear, menswear, accessories, beauty and home.