FatFace increases retail footprint in Ireland with new store in Westport

British lifestyle brand FatFace, which was acquired by high street giant NEXT in October 2023 for £115 million, has opened a new 1,571 sq ft store at 33 Bridge Street in Westport – its first on Ireland’s West Coast.

The new store emphasises FatFace’s fresh commitment to expanding its retail portfolio in Ireland, having opened a 2,000 sq ft store at Blanchardstown Centre in Dublin in May 2024. That was the brand’s first full-price store opening in Ireland for 14 years, adding to five existing stores.

Karen Johnston, Stores Director at FatFace, said: "Opening our first store on the West Coast of Ireland is an exciting step for FatFace. Westport is a beautiful location with a strong sense of community, and we are thrilled to bring our brand to this part of the country.

"We’re confident that our new store will become a favourite shopping destination for locals and visitors alike, and we look forward to connecting with the Westport community."

The new Westport location is creating eight new jobs and will sell FatFace’s latest SS25 collection, as well as items from its core range for men and women.

NEXT’s acquisition of FatFace in 2023, which it already sold as a third-party brand, followed its snapping up of Cath Kidston and Joules in the same year.

NEXT also operates the UK retail and e-commerce businesses for US lingerie giant Victoria's Secret and Gap via joint venture deals.

As well as its stores in Ireland, FatFace, which is a B Corp Certified company, currently operates 190 stores in the UK and over 20 stores in the US and Canada.