At the end of 1H2012 –from the 1st of February to the 31st of July-, Inditex had net sales of 7.2 billion euros, 17 % more than the same period from last year. Like-for-like sales have increased by 7%.
During this period, the Group's net profit has increased by 32%, totaling 944 million euros.
Inditex opened 166 stores in 39 markets during the first six months of the FY2012, bringing the total across its 85 markets in the five continents to 5,693 The Group continues to see opportunities for global growth in all the geographical areas where it carries out its commercial activity.
Among the openings that have taken place during this semester, the launching Zara's new store image at the Fifth Avenue in New York, which has afterwards been introduced in other cities; Stradivarius launching in Mexico, spreading thus its presence to 50 markets and Zara Home's entry in Colombia and Brazil must be highlighted.
During this period, it should be emphasized the announcement of particularly relevant investments in Spain, on which international growth will be based. In this regard, Inditex's CEO, Mr Pablo Isla mentioned at the General Meeting of Shareholders "the substantial investing effort made in infrastructures in Spain, on which the global expansion for the eight commercial concepts is based. This effort maximizes value in terms of human talent and technology, and promotes growth together with more than 5,500 Spanish suppliers".
This policy of investment in Spain has been realized through three principal projects: the extension of Inditex's headquarters in Arteixo, increasing in 70,000 square metres Zara and Zara Home's commercial premises, the building of Massimo Dutti's new logistics centre in Tordera, introducing state-of-the-art innovations and, finally, the acquisition of 300 000 m2 in Guadalajara aimed at hosting a new international logistics centre. This policy will amount altogether to a total investment of 450 million euros in Spain and an estimated direct job creation of 1400 new positions.
Through this investment projects, more than 200,000 square metres will be added to the commercial and logistics surface aimed at supporting international growth from Spain.
Additionally, the Group has created 9,267 new more jobs in comparison to the same period from last year, ending 2012 first half with 112,468 employees.
Zara has launched online sales on September, 5th in China, adding this market to its e-commerce activity, which is carried out in 18 European countries, as well as in Japan and the US. Zara Home and Massimo Dutti will start their online sales in the United States in October.
Store sales in constant currency terms rose by 17% between the 1st of August and the 17th of September, 2012.
Source:
http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/apparel-news/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=115953
