Zara to Reopen in Ukraine Next Month

By Andrea Figueras

Zara owner Inditex said it plans to reopen some of its stores in Ukraine this spring, shortly after the two-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of the country.

The Spanish fashion giant said Friday that it plans a gradual reopening of its physical stores and online business in Ukraine starting on April 1. The reopening will be adjusted depending on the circumstances of the market, it said.

The company, which is also home to other brands such as Pull and Bear, Massimo Dutti and Bershka, decided to close its stores on Feb. 24, 2022, since which time it has supported its employees and guaranteed the salaries of its workforce in the country, it said.

News of the reopening was first reported by the Financial Times.

Its decision follows in the footsteps of peer, Swedish clothing retailer H&M Hennes & Mauritz, which in November said that it was set to start reopening its stores in Ukraine.

Other international companies such as Danish jeweler Pandora and French cosmetics firm Yves Rocher have already resumed operations after putting them on hold at the beginning of the war.

Inditex has communicated to shopping centers in the Kiev area it will reopen around 20 stores covering its seven brands, including three Zara shops, an Inditex source confirmed when contacted by Dow Jones Newswires.

This could increase to 50 stores, but the company didn't disclose specifics.

The company's priority continues to be the safety of its employees and customers, it said.

The retailer has begun refurbishing shops, while some staff will participate in training programs at its subsidiary in Poland over the next month.

As of Jan. 31, 2023, Inditex employed 1,127 people in Ukraine and had a total of 82 stores, including 11 Zara shops.

Write to Andrea Figueras at andrea.figueras@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 01, 2024 07:02 ET (12:02 GMT)

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