Bestseller expands in Argentina
Danish retailer Bestseller is investing $50 million to open about 40 stores in Argentina with local partner Grupo One, a push that’s expected to create some 500 jobs. That kind of localized retail expansion creates openings for lifestyle and fashion creators in emerging markets to pitch in‑market collaborations and store-visit content. (x.com)
A Danish fashion group that already runs more than 3,100 stores worldwide is now betting on Argentina, a market many global retailers avoided for years because imports, prices, and currency rules kept changing. BESTSELLER plans to put $50 million into the country over five years with a target of about 40 stores. (bestseller.com) (lanacion.com.ar) The local vehicle is Grupo One, the Argentine group tied to businessman Manuel Antelo, Pedro Aguirre Saravia, and Sabine Mulliez. The same group is also behind Decathlon’s opening in Argentina and the planned arrival of Kiabi, which means this is not a one-off experiment but part of a wider retail push. (lanacion.com.ar) (forbesargentina.com) The first BESTSELLER brands lined up for Argentina are Jack & Jones, Only, and Balmohk. Jack & Jones is the men’s line that already has more than 1,000 stores in 38 countries, while Only is one of BESTSELLER’s best-known women’s brands. (mdzol.com) (bestseller.com 1) (bestseller.com 2) The rollout is supposed to start fast, not someday. Argentine business reports say the first seven stores are slated for 2026, and three of those are expected at Unicenter, one of the country’s biggest shopping centers. (dfsud.com) (agroempresario.com) That timing says a lot about Argentina in 2026. Local coverage has described a new wave of international brands preparing entries or returns, including Mango and Kiabi, after President Javier Milei’s government pushed deregulation and a more market-friendly stance. (m24digital.com) (derechadiario.com.ar) Retail chains do not open 40 stores just to test whether shoppers exist. They do it when they think supply rules are loosening enough to move clothes into the country, sign mall leases, and keep prices coherent long enough for a brand to become familiar. (lanacion.com.ar) (webretail.com.ar) BESTSELLER is not a niche label trying to plant one flag in Buenos Aires. It is a family-owned Danish company founded in 1975 that says it operates in 47 markets with more than 20 brands, so Argentina is being added to a machine that already knows how to scale mid-market fashion across countries. (bestseller.com 1) (bestseller.com 2) The jobs number shows how physical this expansion is. Reports on the deal say the store plan is expected to create about 500 jobs, which means hiring for sales floors, stockrooms, logistics, and local management rather than just running an online shop from abroad. (derechadiario.com.ar) (webretail.com.ar) If the openings stay on schedule, Argentina will go from having imported BESTSELLER labels in theory to having branded storefronts where shoppers can actually try on a Jack & Jones jacket or an Only dress in person. In fashion retail, that is the difference between a name on a customs form and a brand with a foothold. (dfsud.com) (bestseller.com)
