Swedish fashion retailer Lindex has put its Chinese expansion plan on hold after partner Suning retreated from a franchise agreement.

Lindex and Suning struck a partnership in September 2013 to open 100 stores by 2018, the first of which was slated to open in September this year in Shanghai.

The company said the setback will have no impact in its performance this year and will look at other options to expand into the Chinese market.

Lindex offers lingerie, ladies’ wear, children’s wear and cosmetics through its around 430 stores in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Baltic states, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Russia and the Middle East and online shop www.lindex.com.