Skip to content
General

Asia-Pacific retailers plan overseas expansion

By Minjun Park
1 min read
retail asia
retail asia
In this article (4)

Asia-Pacific retailers as increasingly embracing overseas expansion, according to new research by commercial real estate company CBRE.

The report, Rise of Apac Retailers 2018, analysed 600 openings in the region, showing the proportion of Apac retailers (predominantly F&B operators, fashion and beauty brands) had increased from 17 to 30 per cent between 2014 and last year, accounting for almost a third of new regional entrants. The strongest target markets are China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore, while the expansion itself has been shown to strengthen brands in their home markets.

Most retailers expanding into Apac territories are from Australia, Japan and Korea.

The firm’s  head of retail, advisory and transaction services Asia Vivek Kaul said: “Apac retailers are becoming a driving force in the region, spurred on by potential revenue growth and the need for stronger brand awareness. This expansion is not focused on one single market – instead, it reflects the diversity and dynamism within Asia Pacific’s retail sector.”

Associate director of Asia Pacific research Liz Hung said whether they are establishing flagship stores in gateway cities or testing the waters in emerging markets, Apac brands are “increasingly adopting a savvier approach” to regional expansion.

Questions & Answers

Q.

Which specific types of businesses are primarily driving this overseas expansion among Asia-Pacific retailers?

A.

The retailers predominantly embracing overseas expansion are food and beverage operators, alongside fashion and beauty brands. These sectors are leading the increase in Asia-Pacific retailers establishing a presence in new regional markets.

Q.

Where are the majority of these expanding retailers originally based?

A.

Most of the retailers expanding into new territories within the Asia-Pacific region originate from Australia, Japan, and Korea. These countries are key sources of businesses pursuing regional growth.

Background from the Retail Academy

Background guides from the Retail Academy, free to read.

  • Unit economics

    Unit economics

    Four-wall margin, occupancy cost ratio, payback period and contribution per square metre, the small set of numbers that decides whether a store network can s…

    Retail Leadership · 10 min read

  • Market entry

    Market entry models

    The four ways brands enter Asian retail markets, what each one costs in control and capital, and the questions that decide which is right for a given country.

    Retail Leadership · 13 min read

  • Market entry

    Market entry in Brunei

    Ownership rules, entry models, licensing steps and a realistic first-year plan for entering Brunei.

    Asia Market Guides · 10 min read

  • General

    AI in retail

    A practical map of where AI already pays off in retail, from demand forecasting and pricing to search, customer service and store operations, and where the h…

    Retail Operations · 11 min read

Weekly Briefing

Asia's retail intelligence, in your inbox

Monday, Wednesday and a Friday Weekly Wrap: the retail stories, numbers and moves that mattered across Asia. Nothing else, and you can unsubscribe in one click.

  • Top industry moves and market shifts
  • Weekly data-driven analysis from across Asia
  • Monday, Wednesday and the Friday Weekly Wrap

Read by retail operators, investors and brand teams across Asia.

Protected by a quick human check. No spam, ever. Unsubscribe in one click.

SecureGDPR ready