Mango expands in Italy: franchising in central and southern regions and a Coin partnership

Mango is opening the first store in its partnership with Coin in Catania, confirming an Italian growth strategy that also includes franchising, particularly in central and southern Italy. The opening on Via Etnea is the first step in a programme to establish 22 outlets within Coin department stores by the end of 2027. For the franchising sector, the main significance is the role of franchisees in a strategy that keeps several expansion models distinct.

Coin partnership launches in Catania

According to Corriere della Sera on 15 October 2026, the new Mango space covers around 1,000 square metres across two floors and offers womenswear, menswear and childrenswear. It is the first store to open under the agreement announced in June between the Spanish brand and Coin.

Each outlet is set to have its own entrance and display windows. Although located within department stores, the spaces are therefore designed to recreate the experience of a standalone shop. This is a specific feature of the partnership, shaping both the brand’s presence in the building and how customers access its ranges.

Following Catania, the schedule outlined for 2026 includes Rome, Florence and Bari. In 2027, the programme is expected to extend to Genoa, Como and Trieste, alongside a stronger presence in Sicily and Sardinia. The overall target remains 22 stores by the end of 2027.

Franchising remains a separate route to growth

The Coin collaboration is not the whole of Mango’s Italian expansion plan. In the interview published by Corriere della Sera, the brand identifies three ways in which it intends to continue expanding: company-owned stores, partnerships such as the one with Coin, and franchising.

For franchising, the focus is particularly on central and southern Italy, where Mango says it still sees room for growth. Sicily and Calabria are specifically named as regions where it intends to continue working with franchise partners.

This distinction matters when interpreting the announcement: the 22 outlets planned under the Coin agreement are not presented as a programme for 22 new franchises. They are the result of a commercial partnership, while expansion through franchisees forms a separate strand of the Italian strategy.

For the franchising sector, the key takeaway is therefore confirmation of the role of local partners alongside the company-owned network and agreements with other operators. The published information does not, however, specify how many new franchised stores are planned for each of the regions mentioned.

Nearly 30 openings planned for 2026

Overall, Mango plans to open nearly 30 new stores in Italy by the end of 2026 across the Coin project and its company-owned network. The reported estimate for 2027 is around another 30 stores, with the caveat that some projects are still being finalised.

These figures should therefore be read as forecasts, not as completed openings. Nor do they represent a tally of new franchised stores: the figure of nearly 30 openings in 2026 explicitly covers the Coin collaboration and the company-owned network.

Growth also extends to the product range. Womenswear remains central, while Mango says it is investing in its menswear and childrenswear collections. Its stated objectives also include strengthening menswear through new dedicated stores. The Catania outlet, by contrast, brings together all three ranges.

The agreement forms part of Coin’s revamp

For Coin, Mango’s arrival accompanies a broader turnaround programme. ItaliaOggi reported on 21 October 2026 that all 28 department stores would undergo refurbishment, scheduled by quarter, with the aim of completing the work between the end of 2027 and early 2028.

A refresh of Coin’s brand identity and communications, starting with its logo, is also planned from early 2027. The Mango partnership therefore sits within this wider transformation, while retaining its own opening schedule.

Practical takeaway: anyone considering a Mango franchise should distinguish the Coin programme from franchising opportunities and check territory availability, the proposed store format and financial terms directly with the brand. Its stated interest in central and southern Italy indicates a direction for growth, not a fully defined franchise offer for every city.