Loblaw Companies Limited, Canada's largest grocer, has opened its flagship apparel store on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue in New York.
Loblaw introduced a clothing line nearly seven years ago, in order to compete with Wal-Mart, which was expanding in Canada.
During the intervening period, Loblaw saw its apparel line doing well and it started launching standalone stores. Currently, Loblaw has 12 standalone stores for garments in Canada.
Last year, Loblaw decided to expand its garment stores outside Canada and it opened five outlets in New York and New Jersey in US.
Loblaw plans to take its apparel brand international and the launch of its flagship store in New York is a step in that direction.
The company feels there is scope for another 20 percent growth, most of it coming from its overseas expansion.
In contrast to companies like Wal-Mart and Target Corp., which started offering garments initially and then diversified to groceries, Loblaw has diversified from being an everyday grocery seller to offering apparels.
Fibre2fashion News Desk - India