In Apple’s 10-K filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the company has revealed plans to open 30 to 35 new retail stores by September 2013, about the same number the company opened in fiscal 2012.
Apple opened 33 new brick-and-mortar stores during 2012, 28 of which were outside the U.S., bringing the total number of worldwide Apple Stores to 390. The company said in the filing that it plans to replicate 2012’s growth by opening an additional 30 to 35 stores during the 2013 fiscal year, about three-quarters of which will be located outside the U.S.
The company is currently in an international retail push, working to bring the number of international Apple Stores in line with the U.S. numbers. As of last month, Apple counted 250 active stores in the U.S. compared to 140 locations outside of the U.S. The company recently opened its largest Asian location at the Wangfujing mall in Beijing, China.
Net sales for the Apple Store segment increased $4.7 billion during 2012, a 33 percent increase from the year ago period.
Apple said in its filing: “The growth in net sales during 2012 was driven primarily by increased demand for iPhone following the launches of iPhone 4S and iPhone 5, strong demand for the new iPad and iPad 2, and higher Mac net sales,”
Year-over-year growth in retail was down compared to Apple’s other segments, it accounted for 12 percent of total net sales, compared to 13 percent in 2011.
Per store performance was higher year-over-year, with each location bringing in an average of $51.5 million in revenue compared to $43.3 million in 2011.
It was announced on Monday that Apple’s Senior Vice President of Retail John Browett would be leaving the company after less than a year on the job. A search for a replacement is underway, with CEO Tim Cook running the retail division in the meantime.
