The store opend on November 22 and both brands will feature the updated prototype format. Following this addition, all of A&F Co.’s brands will be represented at Westfield London – a new Hollister store, which includes Gilly Hicks, has been open at this shopping destination since July 2019.
As the company continues to grow globally and invest in its people and real estate in the London market, A&F Co. also announced that its Savile Row space, currently occupied by abercrombie kids, will be enhanced and repurposed as the global company’s EMEA Home Office, allowing more room for its expanded team in the region. The abercrombie kids store will be relocated to a carveout location in the nearby A&F Burlington Gardens store. The transition will begin after the Holiday Season, in early 2020, and is expected to be completed by Summer 2020.
“These exciting new stores and changes reflect our commitment to global growth as we continue to adapt our playbooks for European markets,” said Fran Horowitz, Chief Executive Officer, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. “With our growing team in the region, we’re getting closer to our local consumer, and both the Burlington Gardens and Westfield London locations will be an opportunity to bring relevant products and experiences to both our adult and kids customers.”
Keith Mabbett, Director of Leasing for Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield said, “Westfield London is pleased to be the only location in London where customers can shop all of Abercrombie & Fitch Co.’s brands. The opening of the new Abercrombie & Fitch including abercrombie kids is an excellent addition to the centre and along with Hollister and Gilly Hicks, provides a strong fashion offering for our UK and international customers.”
With the addition of Westfield, in 2019, the company has opened 13 new experiences across its brands in the EMEA region, including in October 2019 its first mall-based A&F store in France at Westfield’s Parly 2 mall, and in November 2019 its first mall-based standalone abercrombie kids store in Europe, located at Plaza Norte 2 in Madrid.
As outlined at the company’s Investor Day in 2018, A&F Co. sees significant opportunity for global growth, and earlier this year, the company appointed two Group Vice Presidents over the EMEA and APAC regions. Dan Le Vesconte joined the company earlier this summer and is building out regionally-focused teams in the UK across Marketing, Merchandising, Planning, Inventory Management, Promotions, Customer Research, Strategic Planning, and Finance totaling approximately 60 people.
