Tours store to occupy new Élégance Loire building
The plans follow Uniqlo's October 22 opening in Cannes. In a press release, Laurène Caulliez, the retailer's regional director for France, said the Tours and Bordeaux projects reflected its aim of moving closer to customers. She highlighted Centre-Val de Loire's economic vitality and heritage, and said the Bordeaux move would improve the shopping experience.
In Tours, Uniqlo will occupy premises at 9–13 Rue Nationale and 3–5 Rue du Commerce, near the Olivier Debré Centre for Contemporary Art. The two-level store will have more than 850 square meters of sales space, carry women's, men's and children's clothing, and employ 40 people.
La Nouvelle République reported on October 28, 2026, that the store will be in the upper part of Rue Nationale, with a ground-floor location in the new Élégance Loire building. The newspaper said that stretch of the street had been seeking a commercial anchor for several years. The opening will introduce residents of Tours and the surrounding region to Uniqlo's LifeWear concept.
Bordeaux relocation adds space and staff
The Bordeaux project is a relocation rather than Uniqlo's arrival in a new city. According to Sud Ouest's October 28, 2026, report, the retailer has operated on Rue de la Porte-Dijeaux since 2016. Its current shop at No. 35 will close before the replacement opens at 63 Rue Sainte-Catherine in spring 2027.
The new store will span three floors and 1,400 square meters. Alongside women's, men's and children's clothing, it will offer the UTme! customization service. Staffing will total 100, including 30 additions to the existing store's team.
Expansion alongside record results and labor disputes
Uniqlo opened its first French store on December 14, 2007. Fast Retailing's Europe operations page, updated October 2, 2026, listed 30 stores in France as of August 31, 2026.
The latest expansion plans follow strikes that recently halted operations at as many as one-quarter of Uniqlo's French stores. Employees protested what they described as worsening working conditions and sought pay increases as the brand continued to grow strongly.
Fast Retailing reported its fifth consecutive year of record performance on October 8, 2026. For fiscal 2026, which ended August 31, consolidated revenue reached 3.9633 trillion yen, up 16.6% from a year earlier. Business profit rose 30.4% to 718.4 billion yen, while profit attributable to owners of the parent increased 25.3% to 542.5 billion yen.
The group's Europe segment recorded revenue of 512.6 billion yen, a 38.7% increase, and business profit of 91.7 billion yen, up 69.0%.
Foreign chains keep expanding in a weak French market
AFP reported on October 28, 2026, that the Tours and Bordeaux stores together represent more than 2,250 square meters of sales space. It placed the announcement against a weak backdrop for French fashion retail spending, even as large foreign chains continue to expand in the country.
Among them is Spain's Mango, which reopened its renovated Les Halles store in Paris in late October 2026 with more than 700 square meters. AFP said France is Mango's largest market, with more than 250 points of sale occupying over 100,000 square meters. At the most recent Choose France summit, Mango announced plans to invest 66 million euros and open 45 outlets between 2026 and 2028.
AFP also reported that Ireland's Primark is expanding in France with three new stores in 2026, in Annecy, Mont-Saint-Martin and Béziers. Those projects represent nearly 30 million euros in investment and an additional 6,650 square meters of sales space.
