H&M seeking more British stores

CLOTHING retailer Hennes & Mauritz is planning to open more British stores after its sales here soared in recent months.

The Swedish-owned firm wants six more stores by Christmas and eventually wants more than 150. Defying a downturn on the High Street, H&M's sales at its 63 British stores jumped 35% for the six months ended May, recent figure showed.

Spokesman Carl-Henric Enhoerning said H&M had seen no sign of a downturn: 'It has been a very good period for us in the UK market. It is one of our big expansion markets and we have had very successful collections both this year and last.'

Group sales surged by 18% last month, its second-highest growth rate so far this year. Growth hit 19% in June, which H&M credited to its good summer collection.

H&M opened four UK stores during the first six months. The six planned for the second half are in Stratford-upon-Avon, Basingstoke, Leeds, Edinburgh, Romford and Lakeside retail park, Essex.