OREANDA-NEWS. March 15, 2012. On March 15th, Apranga Group opens the first in the Baltics ALDO shoes and accessories store,  which will be located in Vilnius, at shopping and entertainment center  Akropolis. Establishment of footwear retail chain is a new business direction and challenge for the Group.

 „ALDO is one of the fastest growing shoes and accessories chain globally. Currently the brand develops very fast in European region with the latest openings in Czech Republic, Croatia, Bulgaria, UK and France. Success of ALDO is beyond good quality on-trend fashion footwear and accessories at affordable price. Therefore we don‘t have doubts the brand will be welcome by Lithuanian customers. It should also differ from the current footwear offer in the market in terms of fashion and colorful range”, - Rimantas Perveneckas, the General Manager of Apranga Group, says.

 ALDO Group was founded in 1972 in Montreal, Canada and is now one of the leading fashion footwear and accessories retailers in the world. ALDO network is developed following franchising agreement which was signed in August 2011. The next openings are expected in coming days in Kaunas and Klaipeda shoppingand entertainment centers Akropolis. During next 5 years around 15 stores are planned to be open in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

 Apranga Group totally opens 8 new or fully reconstructed stores in March, 2012.

 First Massimo Dutti store in Latvia was opened last week already. The next one follows in Kaunas, at shopping and entertainment centers Akropolis these days. The launch of first Massimo Dutti store in Lithuania was accepted very well by customers in August 2011. Therefore Apranga group plans to develop actively this brand in the next 2 years in all 3 Baltic countries.

 The new concept of multibrand stores Aprangos galerija is opened in Vilnius, at shopping and entertainment center Akropolis, today as well.

 „New concept of Aprangos galerija reflects main retailing and interior trends. It was developed by our inside architects group for a long time and is expected to be evaluated positive from the customer’s perspective. We celebrate 15 years anniversary of Aprangos galerija in 2012. These entire years Aprangos galerija presented only on-trend and most stylish brands from the youth fashion sector.
 
Therefore it differs in the market and remains loved by young people. The image store in Vilnius shopping center Akropolis will introduce currently rising brands Super Dry, Fornarina, Desigual in the neighbourhood of the Diesel, Miss Sixty, Energie, Killah, Morgan, G-Star, Bench, Only and Jack and Jones“, - Rimantas Perveneckas, the General Manager of Apranga Group, says.

 In addition, the newly reconstructed Mango store in Kaunas and second store of German brand Tom Tailor in Vilnius, at shopping center Ozas, are opened during March.

 „We observe the market recovery signs in the Baltics. Our Group invests to the renovation of the chain, the competitive ability and develops the brands that potential we see for all three Baltic countries. We observe European, same as American markets for the upcoming brands, rising in different segments. We do have intentions to introduce new brands to the market as a part of our multibrand stores City, Aprangos galerija or Apranga portfolio or as a free standing stores in a recent years“, - Rimantas Perveneckas, the General Manager of Apranga Group, says.

 Shares of Apranga are listed on Baltic equity list on NASDAQ OMX Vilnius Stock Exchange. Majority shareholder of Apranga Group is concern MG Baltic.