Supergroup, the UK parent of the Japanese styled t-shirt and casualwear brand Superdry, is reportedly in talks with a Chinese partner for a serious launch in the Mainland.

Superdry has been selling online for a year in China, but has no physical company-owned stores at present.

According to a report in The Sunday Times Supergroup is closing in on a deal to launch the brand through retail stores.

It would be a key strategy in the brand’s broader global ambition. Since Euan Sutherland stepped into the CEO role last October, the company has stepped up its international expansion. Sutherland has vast previous international retail experience, including responsibility for China in a previous retail role.

Supergroup last year bought out its distributors in Spain, Germany and the US to take greater control of its branding and retail strategy in those markets. It now has some 190 stores across Europe.

Supergroup may reveal more of its international plans as early as this week when it releases its latest results.

Sutherland’s predecessor, the company’s founder Julian Dunkerton, has previously said the company is committed to reinvesting profits into global expansion rather than return cash to shareholders.

“It’s very important that we are able to deliver the biggest markets for the brand,” he said last July. “We will do it, but we have to do it correctly.”

At the time of his appointment, Sutherland clearly indicated his role included managing international expansion:

“The business is at an exciting stage of its development and has numerous opportunities for growth.

“Julian and I work well together and have a shared ambition to succeed with the global roll out of the Superdry brand.”