Uniqlo

For the first time, the stock value of Fast Retailing, the parent company of leisurewear chain Uniqlo, has surpassed the value of Inditex, the group that operates Zara, among others. In terms of market capitalisation, the Japanese fashion company is now at the very top of the global clothing industry.

Uniqlo remains determined to overtake Zara. Although parent company Fast Retailing saw profits plummet by 44% in the past financial year and sales fall by 12.3%, the Japanese clothing giant is already expecting a strong recovery next year.

Japanese fashion chain Uniqlo plans to open a fourth Belgian store next autumn, in one of Brussels' most important shopping streets.

Japanese fashion brand Uniqlo’s parent company, Fast Retailing, has posted a record first quarter profit. A huge growth in its foreign sales means they are now larger than its Japanese turnover, for the first time ever.

In the past fiscal year, Japanese Uniqlo more than doubled its profit on the back of a 4 % turnover increase. The fashion chain forecasts international sales to soon outgrow those of Japan.

Fast Retailing, which owns Japanese fashion company Uniqlo, published very disappointing third quarter profit results. Turnover grew nearly 9 % but its profit failed to meet analysts’ expectations.

Takao Kuwahara is now the official CEO for Uniqlo Europe, Comptoir des Cotonniers and Princesse Tam Tam, which means he now leads 3 of Japanese Fast Retailing's brands in Europe.