Giordano International's Chairman in Dubai to launch two flagship stores in Dubai Mall

Giordano has had a prosperous year, having achieved over 25% growth, despite of the market's challenges and competitive landscape.

During his visit, Dr. Peter Lau discussed the ongoing global and regional expansion as well as the group's brand portfolio which includes Concepts, Giordano Junior and BSX.

Lau said:

"Giordano is now stronger than ever. Since its inception in 1981, we have been on an upward trajectory that has taken the brand to new heights. The Middle East is one of our strongest regions. Despite the current economic landscape, Giordano's heritage and high standards of operational efficiency in the retail world has ensured that the brand maintains its momentum and achieves consistent growth. We intend to continue this trend during the years to come, without compromising on our quality and value."

Globally, Giordano operates over 2,000 stores across 40 countries, 170 of which are in the region. This year, the brand entered Mauritius and Azerbaijan, adding two more countries in the MENA region. Giordano plans to increase their presence in the region with the launch of five more new stores by the end of December 2008, and will have a total of over 200,000 square feet of retail space.

In addition, 30 more stores are expected to be opened within the next 18 months, thus achieving its goal of over 200 stores in the Middle East by 2010.

Dr. Lau's visit to the UAE coincides with the launch of the latest brand offering by Giordano at Dubai Mall. Giordano Concepts caters to the contemporary individual offering chic and minimalist fashion. The store with an area of 3,500 square feet is the second Concepts store to open in the Middle East, following the opening at Saudi Arabia's iconic Mall of Arabia in Jeddah.

During the year, the brand opened four more stores in India located in Mumbai and Pune. The total number of stores now stands at nine since the launch of their first store in 2006.

Giordano's strong performance has not gone unnoticed. It has been awarded the 2007 Dubai Service Excellence Performance awards, for the "Best Service Performance in Apparel Category" for the Lamcy Plaza, Dubai store, for the third consecutive year.

Since the establishment of Giordano Middle East in 1993, the company has grown consistently, evolving into dynamic apparel brands that continue to offer customers the quality and value Giordano is known for. Over the coming years, Giordano has aggressive expansion plans that will facilitate its positioning as the leader in apparel retail worldwide as well as throughout the region.