Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group to open two stores in Ireland

Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group is opening its first two Frasers stores in Ireland, set to sell hundreds of brands across fashion, beauty and accessories.

The stores will be located in units previously occupied by Debenhams, in Mahon Point Shopping Centre in Cork, and Whitewater Shopping Centre in Kildare and, as reported in The Irish Times, Frasers Group’s Head of Global Leasehold Property, James France, said the openings would create a “significant number of jobs” and that it was a “pivotal moment” in the group’s commitment to bricks-and-mortar retail.

A Sports Direct will also operate within both new stores, and there will be a phased approach to the openings – with Sports Direct to open later this year and Frasers to open in early 2022. The stores occupy approximately 150,000 sq ft combined.

Last week it was confirmed that Mike Ashley will step down as Chief Executive of the group next year, handing over the reins to the company’s current Head of Elevation, Michael Murray, who is also engaged to Ashley’s daughter.