The hot retailers targeting Europe for growth
While China and the US have long been considered major destinations for European retailers looking for expansion, more recently brands hailing from North America and especially Asia have focused on Europe as they grow beyond their own markets.
Many of these brands are long-time MAPIC attendees and this year, with the focus on Asian and US brands searching for space, there will be more brands than ever in Cannes looking for partners and store locations.
Here are just 10 of those hot retailers seeking to expand.
Popmart, China
From Beijing variety store to ambitions for more than 200 US stores and growth in Europe, Pop Mart has been on quite a journey over the past 15 years. Riding the collectibles craze, Pop Mart has partnered with global brands but most notably has created its own characters, increasingly using local artists to reflect its locations. It has also capitalised on mystery boxes – which it calls blind boxes – that contain a mystery collectible. With over 450 stores globally and 2,300 ‘robo-shops’ (retail vending machines), it now has a presence across 30 countries.
“We want our overseas markets to represent 50% of total sales and we are already at 20-30%,” said Larry Lu, head of Pop Mart North America. “We want to make the buying process theatrical and something people enjoy, which is why our robo stores are very different from a typical vending machine,” he added
Miniso, China
Chinese retailer Miniso used MAPIC 2024 to announce the opening of its first UK outlet store at London Designer Outlet, with a 125 sq m store opening ahead of the Christmas period, offering its range of innovative toys, tech and stationery from well-recognised brands including Hello Kitty and Friends, Disney, BT21 and Minions. “It gets their ranges and products directly to a young customer in an urban outlet setting,” LDO Quintain retail director Matt Slade told MAPIC News. Founded in 2013, Miniso has a rapidly expanding global portfolio of stores including approaching 300 European stores.
Daiso, Japan
Daiso attended MAPIC once again in 2024, on the hunt for distributors looking to introduce the company’s store concepts to Europe. Its stores include a wide range of products and the company currently has around 5,300 stores, of which about 4,000 are in Japan. “We have stores in Japan, Asia, the US, Brazil and the Middle East but nothing here in Europe,” EVP and CFO Hong Sik Park told MAPIC News. “It’s a very attractive market for us. That why we are coming here [to MAPIC], to let people understand what Daiso is.”
Urban Revivo, China
China-based fashion retailer Urban Revivo — sometimes dubbed ‘Asia’s answer to Zara’ — made its US debut earlier this year with a 3,000 sq m flagship store in SoHo, New York, and its UK debut at Covent Garden on 3 May. Founded in 2006 and with annual sales of nearly €1 billion, the retailer plans to grow to over 200 overseas stores within five years. Currently, Urban Revivo has over 400 stores worldwide, mostly in China, but also including 19 locations in Singapore, Thailand, and The Philippines, along with design centres in London, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. It also sells on the Asos website.
Chagee, China
Chinese premium tea chain Chagee will open its first US outlet in Westfield Century City in Los Angeles this spring, and the company has also filed for a US initial public offering on the Nasdaq. Chagee was founded in 2017 and the company has grown quickly to more than 6,400 teahouses across China, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Currently, around 97% of its locations are in its home Chinese market. Founder and CEO Junjie Zhang said that he created the chain in a bid to modernise tea drinking after being inspired by the success of international coffee companies. According to the company’s website, Chagee wants to: “serve tea lovers in 100 countries, generate 300,000 employment opportunities worldwide, and deliver 15 billion cups of freshly brewed tea annually.”
Tata Harper, US
Just over two years after being acquired by South Korean beauty giant Amorepacific, American natural cosmetics brand Tata Harper appointed Shay Bennaim as its first global brand president at the end of last year. Founded in 2010, Tata Harper has carved out a prominent place in the competitive beauty market as a pioneer in premium natural skincare. Amorepacific’s acquisition of the brand was a strategic move to strengthen its presence in the US, its largest market, while in France, Tata Harper is available through select retailers.
Amorepacific announced the acquisition of Tata Harper to expand its business in the global clean beauty market
Gentle Monster, South Korea
Chief among the K-brands that have taken the world by storm is the luxury eyewear brand Gentle Monster is a part of South Korea’s iiCombined. Now with around 80 flagship stores in 13 countries worldwide, including seven in the US following this summer’s opening at the American Dream Mall in New Jersey, it is carried by around 200+ retail partners such as Selfridges in the UK. It opened its first European flagship in London in 2018, and opened in Milan this year.
Little Ceasars, US
Little Caesars is the third-largest pizza chain in the US, behind Pizza Hut and Domino’s. The Detroit-based brand has restaurants in Canada, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean. Founded in 1959, Little Caesars has more than 5,400 restaurants in 28 countries across the globe. It debuted in the UK in the 1980s, but it took until 2022 for Little Caesars to re-enter the UK with a restaurant in Derby. Branches opened in Spain and Portugal in 2023, and the chain plans to expand further into Europe.
Little Caesars
Gong Cha, Taiwan
Bubble tea chain Gong Cha recently revealed plans to open more than 225 stores across the UK after signing a franchise agreement with Costa Coffee. Founded in Taiwan in 2006, a deal with Jinziex forms part of its wider strategy to reach 10,000 locations across the world by 2032. Jinziex is a new company led by Diljit Brar, CEO of Goldex; Azha Rehman, founder and CEO of Kaspa’s Desserts; and Steve Falle, managing director of WY&SF. Gong Cha currently operates more than 2,100 locations across 28 countries. In the UK, Gong Cha has 13 stores.
CJ Olive Young
South Korean beauty retailer, CJ Olive Young launched a US subsidiary, CJ Olive Young USA, based in California earlier this year and will identify a suitable location for its first bricks and mortar store in this market, marking its first overseas store. The K-beauty brand targeted Japan last year and is popular with tourists visiting South Korea, which as helped drive online sales globally, with its products available in over 150 countries.
MAPIC 2025 will include a number of networking events where developers, landlords and franchise partners can meet new brands from Europe, Asia and North America.
