CN: Clothing Retailer Athleta to Add Five New Stores in Canada in 2022

Retailer Athleta says it will add five new Canadian stores in 2022, starting with a new location in Burlington, Ontario, this month. The 4,260-square-foot store is Athleta’s third company-operated Canadian location. This fall, the company plans to open other stores in Calgary, Etobicoke, Edmonton and Vancouver.

Last August, Athleta, which is part of San Francisco-based Gap Inc., expanded into Canada with the launch of e-commerce, followed by opening its first company-operated stores outside the U.S. in West Vancouver and Toronto, reports SGB Media.

“Since our launch last year, Canadian customers have quickly gravitated toward our offerings. We have a highly differentiated performance lifestyle product unlike anything else in this market. As a certified B Corp., we are filling a need in the market for a sustainable, purpose-driven brand, and we can see how that connects back to our Canadian customer’s focus on health, wellness and active living,” said Jenelle Sheridan, VP and GM, Athleta Canada. “Athleta’s Canadian business is a key contributor to long-term growth, and we believe our store fleet growth strategy will get us there as we see Canadians return to in-store shopping.”

Athleta’s Canadian entry has had a positive impact on its business, says SGB Media. In Q1 2022, its customer acquisition goal exceeded expectations by over 40 percent as its brand awareness continued to increase due to new product offerings, localized marketing, events, the launch of Alicia Keys and Simone Biles collections, and a partnership with the Toronto Six women’s professional hockey team.

Athleta said the Canadian market remains a priority for the strategic growth of the brand and Gap, Inc.’s portfolio of brands which include Old Navy, Gap and the Banana Republic.