Abercrombie & Fitch Plans Store Closings

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (New Albany, Ohio) announced plans to close the doors on 180 stores during an earnings call this week, reports The Huffington Post. Last year, the specialty apparel brand shuttered 71 U.S. stores.

The locations of the forthcoming closures have not been announced. Abercrombie operates 1014 U.S. stores, many of which are in under-performing and aging malls, under the banners Abercrombie & Fitch, abercrombie kids, Hollister Co. and Gilly Hicks.

At the same time, it is continuing an aggressive international expansion. In fiscal 2012, the company expects to open five Abercrombie & Fitch flagship locations in Hamburg, Hong Kong, Munich, Dublin and Amsterdam as well as an abercrombie kids flagship in London. The Munich and Amsterdam locations will include an abercrombie kids store.

The company recently reported net sales for the thirteen weeks ended January 28, 2012, were up 16 percent to $1.329 billion. Total U.S. sales, including direct-to-consumer sales, grew 4 percent, while international sales increased 62 percent.

Total comparable store sales for the quarter were flat to last year. By brand, comparable store sales dropped 4 percent for Abercrombie & Fitch, decreased 3 percent for abercrombie kids and grew 2 percent for Hollister Co.