New Look targets men after reporting strong numbers in fourth quarter

Danish chief executive Anders Kristiansen ruled the idea of opening stores only selling men’s clothes

Fashion chain New Look wants more men flocking to its stores, boss Anders Kristiansen told investors.

The clothing and shoes retailer, owned by private-equity houses Primera and Apax Partners, only makes about 4 per cent of its sales from menswear, compared with 20 per cent to 30 per cent at rivals such as Topshop, River Island and Inditex-owned chains like Zara.

“If you look at the other brands, we’re not getting our share of the pie,” Kristiansen said.

“We’re now looking to recruit a menswear director. We’re taking this very seriously.”

But the Danish chief executive quashed the idea of opening stores only selling men’s clothes.

Strong web sales over Christmas helped New Look, which has 1104 shops around the world, post a 5.6 per cent rise in revenues to £1.2 billion in the last three months of 2013.