Fast Retailing Co, the operator of the Uniqlo casual clothing chain, opened on Monday its world's largest store in Shanghai, as part of its strategy to expand sales in the Chinese market.
People stand at the entrance of the newly opened Uniqlo flagship store in Shanghai on Monday. The clothing outlet is the world's largest Uniqlo store. (AP Photo)
More than 200 people lined up before the opening of the new downtown outlet, which is in a building that has five stories above ground and one below, and is directly connected to a subway station.
Pan Ning, chief executive officer of Fast Retailing (China) Trading Co, said Uniqlo will enter a "new phase of its development" with the opening of the store in Shanghai.
"We would like to enrich Chinese consumers' lives by outstanding quality and services," the CEO said.
The floor space of the shop is around 8,000 square meters, exceeding the 5,000 square meters of the previously largest outlet in Tokyo's Ginza shopping area, according to the company.
The Shanghai store deals with not only Uniqlo products but also other affiliated brands, such as GU and Comptoir des Cotonniers, to attract a broader range of customers.
The Japanese company now operates more than 200 Uniqlo stores in China, and is planning to launch 80 to 100 outlets annually in the world's second-largest economy.
