Milestones for the year
Zara started online sales in Poland, reaching the figure of 17 European countries in which it operates through this channel, in addition to the United States and Japan.
Bershka achieved the highest certification in sustainable and eco-efficient construction for its first store in Germany. The establishment is located in Tauentzienstraße, one of the main shopping areas of Berlin.
Zara presented its new concept of global store on 666 Fifth Avenue, New York. The establishment, located in the Tishman Building, introduces the brand’s new commercial image.
Uterqüe launches its online store in three new markets: Belgium, Holland and Austria. This brings up to nine the number of European countries in which the company trades online.
Inditex began its commercial activity in Ecuador with the opening of stores of four of its commercial brands: Zara, Pull&Bear, Bershka and Stradivarius. They all opened their first stores in the country in the Quicentro Shopping shopping centre in Quito.
Inditex acquired the building that houses the Zara store on the corner of London's Oxford Street and New Bond Street, with an investment of £155 million. In this 7,000 square metre property is one of Zara's most important stores in the world.
The Chairman of Inditex, Pablo Isla, introduced the Inditex headquarters expansion works to Alberto Nuñez Feijoo, President of the Galician autonomous government. The new facilities, with 70,000 square metres, will make it possible to create 400 new jobs. The investment in the expansion amounts to €100 million.
The General Meeting of Shareholders approved the annual accounts for 2011 and the distribution of dividends for €1.80 per share.
Inditex signed a memorandum of agreement for the acquisition of approximately 300,000 square metres in the town of Cabanillas (Guadalajara) to increase its logistics capacity. The total investment, including the acquisition of the land and the construction of the platform, added up to €150 million.
Zara started its Internet sales operation in China, a new step in the gradual extension of e-commerce to all the markets in which it operates.
Massimo Dutti began its commercial activity in the United States with a new store concept in one of the most exclusive parts of New York's Fifth Avenue, where it meets 54th street, and with the launch of its online store for all the States in the country.
Stradivarius opened in the centre of Manresa (Barcelona) its first 'for&from' store, staffed by people with severe mental disabilities (SMD), in collaboration with the local cooperative Moltacte. This makes the sixth establishment of the Inditex Group's 'for&from' integration programme.
Inditex opened its store no. 6,000 on 460-490 Oxford Street, London. The fourth Zara store in the British capital's main shopping street occupies a prominent space in the new Park House building and presents the new brand image, which was presented for the first time in New York in March.
