Spanish firm Inditex, the world's biggest clothes retailer, has said its net profit shot up by 12% in 2011 on the back of worldwide expansion, notably in Asia.
Net profit for the year stood at €1.93 billion, the company said. The figure was slightly higher than market expectations.
Out of 483 new stores opened in 2011, 132 were in China alone. The firm now counts 5,527 stores in 82 countries under names like Zara, Pull and Bear, Bershka and Massimo Dutti.
The firm opened stores for the first time in five countries, including Australia, Taiwan, Azerbaijan, South Africa and Peru.
It said it planned to keep up the pace in 2012, opening between 480 and 520 new boutiques worldwide.
