Flying Tiger enters Mexico with plans for 100 stores in five years

Flying Tiger Copenhagen has opened its first store in Mexico and aims to reach 100 outlets within five years through a partnership with Grupo Julio, which holds the brand’s franchise rights in the country. The project brings a Danish chain selling homeware, everyday goods and toys to Mexico’s franchise market, with planned investment of between US$30 million and US$40 million.

Entering the market with Grupo Julio

Imagen Radio reported the opening and growth plans on 5 November 2026. In an interview, Jacobo Hamui, director of Flying Tiger Copenhagen in Mexico, explained that the company’s entry is supported by its partnership with Grupo Julio, which is responsible for the franchise in the country.

Finding a local partner was part of the market entry process. Jens Aarup Mikkelsen, the chain’s global director, said the company had been looking for a partner in Mexico and that discussions had enabled the project to move forward.

For the franchise sector, the announcement has two distinct elements: a first store that has already opened and an expansion programme that remains a company target. The opening marks the start of operations; the 100 outlets represent the scale the brand hopes to achieve over the next five years.

The announced arrangement centres on Grupo Julio as the local partner. This partnership should not be confused with an invitation for individual franchisees to invest: the announcement focuses on the brand’s arrival and the planned growth of its Mexican network.

Planned investment of up to US$40 million

Hamui put investment in the Mexican programme at between US$30 million and US$40 million over five years. He also outlined plans to open around 20 to 30 stores a year to reach 100 outlets.

Both figures are projections shared by the chain’s management, not results already achieved. The five-year horizon sets the project’s timeframe, while the stated annual opening rate indicates the pace of growth the company is seeking.

The announced investment covers the expansion programme as a whole. It is neither a franchise purchase price nor a published investment figure per store. This distinction is important when interpreting the announcement: the total should not be treated as part of a commercial offer for an individual outlet.

For now, the concrete milestone is the first opening. Progress towards the target will become clearer as the company announces further openings and develops its presence in Mexico.

Mexico’s role in the move into the Americas

The Mexican launch is part of a broader phase of international growth. According to Mikkelsen, Flying Tiger Copenhagen began entering its first markets in the Americas during 2026, launching in Canada and Central America before the summer.

He identified Mexico as a key market within that strategy. He explained that, from the planning stages of its move into the Americas, the company had viewed Mexico as the region’s most important market for its project.

This assessment helps put the scale of the Mexican plan into context: the first store is presented not as a standalone opening, but as the start of a network the brand intends to develop with its local partner.

A global programme built on franchising

Flying Tiger Copenhagen operates in 47 markets and has more than 1,100 stores. It was acquired by investment fund Modella Capital in May 2026 and plans to open 700 franchised stores globally by 2030.

That international objective and the Mexican target have different timeframes and should be considered separately: one describes the global programme through to 2030; the other is the ambition to reach 100 outlets in Mexico within five years.

Practical takeaway: anyone tracking new brands in the franchise sector should distinguish between the completed opening, expansion targets and any future opportunity to participate. The announcement confirms the brand’s arrival with Grupo Julio, but does not set out investment terms for individual operators.