A phased approach to expansion into Australia will see Debenhams enter the southern hemisphere for the first time. Debenhams will launch an ecommerce site before Christmas 2015, offering products tailored to the market, local currency payment and be the retailer’s first region specific site.

In Vietnam, Vingroup will distribute products in their Fashion Megastore department store chain from early 2016 with selected womenswear and menswear brands sold in 15 stores across the country by the end of the year.

John Scott, Director of International Business Development of Debenhams said: “Both deals are hugely exciting and significant for Debenhams. Australia is a market that we have been reviewing for a number of years and we are delighted to be working with Pepkor, and the wider Steinhoff Group. They are a true global player with the necessary resource and local market expertise to drive our business forward in the region.Working with Vingroup we will equally benefit from their market leading knowledge and expertise in the Vietnamese market. Plans to grow the Fashion Megastore concept over the coming years will see Vingroup take a dominant position in the department store sector which Debenhams will now be part of.”

Debenhams currently has 248 stores across 28 countries, seeking continuous growth in overseas business to around 30% of the total through franchise expansion; international online growth and distributing owned brands beyond Debenhams franchise markets.

Published: 29 October 2015

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