Lululemon eyes up UK expansion ahead of foray into Continental Europe

Canadian yoga-inspired athletic wear firm Lululemon is currently in discussion to open additional stores in the UK ahead of the retailer's push into continental Europe.

Lululemon is understood to be close to signing leases for four new stores in the UK, according to Retail Week. The Canadian retailer currently has one store in Covent Garden and one store on King's Road in London which carry its full line, as well as 5 additional showrooms across the country.

The athletic wear firm has focused on establishing its retail locations in the UK under a showroom format to acquaint the British public with its brand by offering space for yoga and fitness classes. During the firms third-quarter results, Lululemon also revealed its aim to open 20 full-line stores across Europe and Asia by the end of 2017 and is set to open a series of stores in Belgium, France and Switzerland.

Lululemon currently runs 289 stores around the world and has taken on the CBRE Group, a commercial real estate firm, to lead the growth of its store portfolio through the UK and continental Europe.