British department store chain Debenhams is expected to launch first outlet in Singapore this year.

Debenhams’ Malaysia master franchisee Stellar Retail has been in talks with a local partner in Singapore and has said deal signing is close.

According to Stellar Retail’s co-founder Andy Jackson, the company plans to open first Debenhams outlet in the third quarter of this year in Orchard Rd, the city-state’s prime entertainment and retail strip.

Meanwhile, Stellar Retail is seeking further expansion for Debenhams in Malaysia.

“We are looking at two to three sites in the Klang Valley with huge potential,” said Jackson.

Through partnership with Berjaya Group, Debenhams launched in Malaysia in 2003 in Kuala Lumpur. But the venture failed to achieve sufficient profit and the two sides decided to terminate the contract after three years.

It was relaunched in 2008 by Stellar Retail, offering apparel for men, women and children. The relaunched department store was reduced in size and concessions were diminished.

Malaysia’s second Debenhams outlet, the 20,000sqft department store in Lot 10 Bukit Bintang will be relocated to Starhill Gallery. With a new size of 37,000sqft, the relocated outlet will be Debenhams’s largest in Asia.

Debenhams has presence in 25 countries outside the UK including Vietnam.

GB