American Eagle Outfitters Inc., the North American teen fashion retailer, plans
to open retail stores in Israel in 2012.
“As with our other international
locations, customers in Israel have embraced the American Eagle Outfitters and
Aerie brands through extensive travel in North America as well as online at
ae.com. They are eager to shop our retail stores at home, to complete the
lifestyle experience,” Christopher Fiore, the company’s executive vice president
for international operations, said in a press release.
American Eagle
Outfitters on Wednesday signed a multiyear franchise agreement with
Fox-Wizel
Ltd., the operator of 170 FOX stores in Israel and 250 FOX stores
internationally. The agreement includes American Eagle Outfitters
flagship
stores and those of Aerie.
American Eagle Outfitters targets the 15-25
age bracket.
The fashion chain, which was founded in 1977, has 1,100
stores in the US and Canada, and through its e-commerce business, ships
merchandise to 76 countries.
It plans to open a store in the Ramat Aviv
Mall in the beginning of 2012.
Fox-Wizel is in talks with the Melisron
Group regarding franchises for American Eagle Outfitters stores in
Ra’anana’s
Renanim Mall and the Karyon Mall in Kiryat Bialik.
American Eagle
Outfitters opened stores in Dubai and Kuwait in March, and Israel will
be its
third destination outside North America.
Its entry into the local market
follows this year’s Israel launch of Swedish-owned Hennes & Mauritz
stores
through a franchise agreement with Match Retail Ltd.
and the country’s
first Gap store, which opened last year.
At the beginning of June,
American Eagle Outfitters announced plans to open stores in Hong Kong,
Beijing
and Shanghai.