Mango opens in Canada

Spanish women's fashion chain, Mango, has begun its expansion into North America with the opening of five stores. Three stores are opening in Toronto this month and the remaining two are set to open in Montreal in August of this year. The five stores will make up almost 5.000 square feet of shopping floor space. The first shop opened on 13 April in the Yorkdale shopping mall in Toronto.

The company's development plan for North America will continue into the US at a later date. Mango has chosen Canada as its point of entry into the North American market because of its great market potential and affinity with Europe. Mango expects to launch 25 more stores in Canada over the next five years. Isak Halfon, executive vice-president in the Expansion department, said: "Since the beginning, Mango has wanted to be present in all the most important cities in the world. Montreal and Toronto have always been a priority which has finally been fulfilled."

Founded in Barcelona in 1984, the company currently has 791 stores in 78 countries. Mango is a company with 100 per cent Spanish capital. It closed its 2004 campaign with a turnover of over EUR 1.055 billion (GBP 75 million), of which 73 per cent encompasses the international markets. During 2004, the company opened over 87 stores and expects to exceed this amount in 2005.