Japanese apparel retailer UNIQLO has more than doubled its Canadian store network over the past four years, with new locations opening across the country and further expansion planned for 2027. The growth comes as parent company Fast Retailing reports record global financial results, including a sharp increase in North American revenue and profitability.
UNIQLO operated 38 stores in Canada at the end of August 2026, compared with 16 at the same point in 2022, according to Fast Retailing’s store-count disclosures. That represents a net increase of 22 locations, or approximately 138%, over four years. The company reported 39 Canadian stores as of September 30, before additional openings in October.
The retailer’s expansion is continuing with a newly announced 37,000-square-foot flagship at CF Pacific Centre in downtown Vancouver, scheduled to open in spring 2027. Another location is planned for Ottawa’s St. Laurent Centre, where landlord Morguard has confirmed a 12,600-square-foot UNIQLO store is expected to open in early 2027. Both developments follow the completion of UNIQLO’s five-store Canadian expansion program for fall 2026.
The Canadian investment coincides with a strong year for UNIQLO’s North American business, where revenue increased 34.6% and business profit rose 53.3% in fiscal 2026. The results reflect combined operations in Canada and the United States, providing broader financial context for the retailer’s expanding Canadian presence.
Canadian Store Network Continues to Grow
UNIQLO’s Canadian network has expanded steadily since 2022, with much of the growth taking place over the past two fiscal years. The retailer operated 18 stores in August 2023, 23 in 2024 and 31 in 2025, before reaching 40 at the end of October 2026.
UNIQLO opened its Conestoga Mall store in Waterloo on October 30, completing the five-store Canadian expansion program announced earlier in 2026. The store serves Waterloo Region and adds another location to the retailer’s growing southwestern Ontario network.
The opening followed the October launches at Tsawwassen Mills in Delta, British Columbia, and Hillcrest Mall in Richmond Hill, Ontario. Earlier additions at St. Vital Centre in Winnipeg and Quartier DIX30 in Brossard, Quebec, formed part of the same expansion program.
The latest openings follow considerable expansion during 2025, when UNIQLO announced new stores in markets including Victoria, Quebec City, Calgary and Edmonton. Its growing footprint reflects continued investment in markets where it already operates, along with efforts to reach customers in additional Canadian communities.
UNIQLO entered Canada on September 30, 2016, with its first store at CF Toronto Eaton Centre. A second location followed at Yorkdale Shopping Centre, establishing an initial presence in two of Toronto’s busiest retail properties before the company expanded into British Columbia and other provinces.
A Decade of Canadian Leasing Activity
UNIQLO’s Canadian leasing has been handled for more than a decade by Jeff Berkowitz of Aurora Retail Group, whose involvement dates back to the retailer’s entry into the Canadian market. The relationship has continued as UNIQLO has developed a much larger store network across the country.
The retailer’s recent openings illustrate how its real estate strategy has evolved. Shopping centres such as Hillcrest Mall, Tsawwassen Mills and Conestoga Mall provide access to suburban and regional customers, complementing established locations in major metropolitan markets.
UNIQLO is also investing in existing stores. Its Montreal Eaton Centre flagship reopened in September following renovations that introduced additional services, including UTme! customization and RE.UNIQLO Studio, which offers embroidery and clothing repairs.
Vancouver Flagship Confirmed for CF Pacific Centre
UNIQLO will open its first downtown Vancouver store at CF Pacific Centre in spring 2027, filling a significant gap in the retailer’s Canadian network. The approximately 37,000-square-foot flagship will occupy part of the former Nordstrom department store premises at Granville and West Georgia streets, where Cadillac Fairview is redeveloping the space for several major retailers.
The October 26 announcement confirmed that UNIQLO will join Aritzia and Simons in the redevelopment, bringing three major apparel retailers into a property vacated by Nordstrom in 2023.
The new flagship will carry UNIQLO’s LifeWear assortment for men, women, children and babies, along with seasonal collaborations and graphic T-shirts. The location will extend the company’s established Metro Vancouver network into the city’s central shopping district.
For Canadian shopping-centre landlords, UNIQLO’s expansion represents continued demand from a major international apparel retailer. Its assortment of men’s, women’s and children’s clothing gives the company a broad customer base, making it a potential tenant for centres serving diverse demographics.
Ottawa Store Confirmed Through Landlord Disclosure
UNIQLO is also preparing to open a 12,600-square-foot store at St. Laurent Centre in Ottawa in early 2027, according to Morguard Real Estate Investment Trust. The landlord confirmed during its third-quarter earnings call that construction of the UNIQLO premises has been completed, although the retailer has not separately announced the location.
The opening is part of Morguard’s broader $25 million to $30 million remerchandising program at St. Laurent Centre, which includes Sephora, H&M, Sport Chek and Splitsville. The project is introducing additional national retailers while repositioning portions of the shopping centre, including former department-store space.
North American Revenue and Profit Rise Sharply
Fast Retailing reported record financial results for the fifth consecutive year in fiscal 2026, supported by growth across its international operations. Consolidated revenue increased 16.6% to ¥3.9633 trillion for the year ended August 31, while business profit rose 30.4% to ¥718.4 billion.
UNIQLO North America generated revenue of ¥364.9 billion, an increase of 34.6% from the previous year. Business profit climbed 53.3% to ¥67.9 billion, outpacing revenue growth and lifting the region’s business profit margin to approximately 18.6%.
The results cover the United States and Canada together, as Fast Retailing does not separately disclose Canadian revenue, comparable-store sales or profitability. The figures demonstrate the strength of the wider North American business, although they do not establish how quickly Canadian sales are growing.
Fast Retailing attributed its strong North American and European performance partly to new flagship openings, improved brand communications and merchandise that attracted additional customers. The company cited products incorporating current fashion trends, including barrel-leg pants and updated casualwear, alongside its established LifeWear assortment.
The retailer expects North America to generate further double-digit revenue and profit growth in fiscal 2027. It has not disclosed a corresponding Canadian sales forecast or a specific Canadian store-opening target for the coming year.
North America and Europe Gain Importance
UNIQLO’s international growth is changing the geographic balance of Fast Retailing’s business. For the first time, combined revenue from North America and Europe exceeded that of Greater China during fiscal 2026.
European revenue increased 38.7% to ¥512.6 billion, while North American revenue reached ¥364.9 billion. Together, the regions generated approximately ¥877.5 billion in sales, reflecting the growing scale of UNIQLO’s operations outside its established Asian markets.
The company’s store counts also show differences in regional expansion. UNIQLO operated 86 stores in the United States at the end of August 2026, compared with 75 a year earlier, while Canada’s total increased from 31 to 38 over the same period.
Mainland China’s store count declined from 902 to 851 during fiscal 2026, even as Fast Retailing reported improved operating performance in that market. The figures illustrate how UNIQLO’s international store network is evolving, with North America continuing to add locations.
Further Canadian Openings Ahead
UNIQLO’s expanding Canadian network places it in competition with established international apparel retailers, including Zara, H&M and Gap. Its emphasis on everyday clothing, functional fabrics and accessible pricing has helped establish a recognizable position in the Canadian apparel market.
The company’s next announced Canadian opening is at Conestoga Mall in Waterloo, scheduled for fall 2026. The location will extend UNIQLO’s presence in southwestern Ontario as Fast Retailing enters another fiscal year in which it expects continued growth across its North American business.
