Swedish Retailer Prioritizes Safety Amid Ongoing Situation in Ukraine
H&M has indicated plans to gradually reopen its stores in Ukraine starting from November 2023, despite the continued challenges in the region.
In a statement shared with DPA, H&M communicated, “The company is in close dialogue with partners and authorities and is now planning to gradually reopen most of its stores in the country from November 2023.”
The decision to temporarily close these outlets came in the wake of Russia’s actions against Ukraine in February 2022. H&M was not alone in this decision, as numerous other retailers also paused operations in the region.
The statement from H&M further added, “While the H&M Group continues to monitor developments in the country, preparations are being made to reopen most H&M stores where possible. The safety of colleagues and customers will always be our top priority.”
In addition to planning store reopenings, H&M has committed to supporting local organizations for relief and reconstruction efforts. The specifics regarding which outlets in the country will resume operations have yet to be detailed.
Parallel reports suggest that the Spanish fashion conglomerate Inditex might also be considering reopening its outlets in Ukraine come autumn.