International Expansion Continues With UK Sites

The year 2009 will truly be one of international expansion, with the confirmation that Apple will open two additional stores in the United Kingdom by this fall. First, Apple will locate at the St. David’s Centre 2 in central Cardiff, the capital of Wales in the west of the UK. The 1981-vintage center is undergoing a $185 million renovation and expansion that will add nearly 1 million square-feet of retail space and 300 upscale apartments. The expansion should open by October, when the Apple store will also hold its grand opening. Second, Apple will arrive at the Chapelfield Shopping Centre in Norwich, the capital of East Anglia. Another city-centre location, the mall has 99 shops in 527,000 square-feet, along with 117 apartments. Like other developments, the mall has been hit by the declining economy. Last January the developer reported 13 store vacancies, a situation that likely played in Apple’s favor when negotiating its lease. This store could also open by October. Both locations confirm earlier reports that Apple eventually wants a store on every major shopping street in the UK. The stores also confirm comments made by Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer during the company’s financial conference call in January. He told analysts the company would open about 25 stores during fiscal 2009, and that one-half of those stores would be outside of the United States. In fact, of the 35 future locations confirmed by IFO, 18 are outside the U.S.

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