Kooples makes another UK loss

The Kooples, the French fashion chain famous for ad campaigns that use real couples to model its rock-star inspired gear, has made a loss in the UK for the second year running.

The chain, which has 24 UK outlets and hired actor and former footballer Eric Cantona as its "face", is backed by the private-equity firm LBO.

It nearly trebled its sales for the year to September 2012 to £15.2m but pre-tax losses edged up by 3 per cent to £1.17m amid high marketing costs.

The Kooples is one of a batch of French fashion chains - including Sandro, Maje and Claudie Pierlot - that are all hoping to make it big in the UK.

The Kooples has been spending large sums on advertising campaigns to boost awareness of the brand in the UK which has caused it to rack up losses.