Foot Locker to expand into Republic

The US retailing giant Foot Locker plans to open 12 shops in the Republic of Ireland over the next three years.

The US retailing giant Foot Locker plans to open 12 shops in the Republic of Ireland over the next three years.

The company, which is based in New York and has over 3,600 retail outlets worldwide, plans to open its first shops early in the new year.

The company is looking to open between ten and 12 shops over the next three years in highly populated areas throughout the State.

The company is currently in negotiations with estate agents over the lease of properties. A spokesperson declined to comment on the exact locations currently under consideration.

READ MORE

Foot Locker plans to open relatively small stores of no bigger than 3,000 square feet.

The speed at which the new shops will open depends on how fast the company can find suitable premises in prime locations, a spokesman told ireland.com.

The company spokesman declined to comment this afternoon on how many people would be employed in the move but given that Foot Locker already employees over 40,000 employees in its 3,600 stores worldwide it is expected the company will employ over 150 people in its Irish operation.

Foot Locker operates its stores directly, rather than on a franchise basis.

Earlier this month the company reported annual sales of $1.19 billion from its 3,619 shops worldwide.

Conor Pope

Conor Pope

Conor Pope is Consumer Affairs Correspondent, Pricewatch Editor and cohost of the In the News podcast