Yoshitsu Co., Ltd Establishes Franchise Network for Southeast Asia Expansion

Yoshitsu Co., Ltd
Yoshitsu Co., Ltd

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TOKYO, Aug. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Yoshitsu Co., Ltd ("Yoshitsu" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: TKLF), a retailer and wholesaler of Japanese beauty and health products, sundry products, luxury products, electronic products, as well as other products in Hong Kong, Japan, North America, and the United Kingdom, today announced that, on August 1, 2024, the Company, through its Hong Kong subsidiary, Tokyo Lifestyle Limited (“TLS”), entered into the following agreements with Grun Group Thailand Co. Ltd. (“Grun Thailand”), a professional brand marketing agency, to develop a network of franchise stores for beauty products in the Southeast Asia market under the “Tokyo Lifestyle” brand: (i) a trademark license agreement with Tokyo Lifestyle Thailand Co., Ltd., a company incorporated in Thailand, the controlling shareholder of which is Grun Thailand, and (ii) a purchase and sales contract (collectively, the “Agreements”). The Company sees these Agreements as representing a significant milestone in the Company’s ambitious regional expansion strategy.

By entering into the Agreements, the Company plans to establish a distribution network consisting of 18 franchise stores in Thailand and 15 franchise stores in Malaysia by the end of 2026. In Thailand, the Company expects to open three standard stores (with a floor plan of 100 to 150 square meters each) in downtown Bangkok in 2024 and eight lifestyle stores (with a floor plan of 80 to 120 square meters each) nationwide in 2025, and reach 18 stores nationwide by 2026, with the expectation of building a strong brand presence in the country. In Malaysia, the Company anticipates opening two standard stores in Klang Valley in 2024 and five lifestyle stores nationwide in 2025, and reaching 15 stores nationwide by 2026.

Mr. Qiang (Johnny) Liao, Chief Executive Officer of Grun Thailand, remarked, “We consider Southeast Asia as one of the most promising emerging markets in the world. By introducing the brand ‘Tokyo Lifestyle,’ which originated in Japan, we believe Yoshitsu can capture local consumers’ interests, unlocking new opportunities for significant and lasting growth. Moreover, we expect our thoughtful site selection and network expansion plan to be highly compatible with the structure and characteristics of the local markets, both from the perspective of a cost-efficient top-down distribution network and a point-to-area popularization model. We believe this cooperation will accelerate mutual growth, promoting more opportunities and development for both companies.”