Frasers Group confirmed to Just Style that it has acquired Aphrodite, however the company declined to comment further on the deal or provide details of the amount.
Founded in 1994, Aphrodite runs a store in Sunderland, UK and has sold clothing globally through its website, Aphrodite1994.com since 2007.
The retailer stated that it was established “with the goal of providing the North East with the finest designer menswear and footwear from carefully selected brands”. It stocks apparel and footwear from brands, including Canada Goose, Comme Des Garcons and Paul Smith.
Frasers Group's purchased luxury online retailer Matches in a £52m ($65.8m) deal. However, shortly after the deal was announced, it put the online clothing platform into administration.
In a statement at the time Frasers Group said Matches had “continued to make material losses” despite Frasers Group’s support and the brand’s management team attempting to find ways to “stabilise” the online clothing platform.
GlobalData apparel analyst Alice Price said at the time it showed Frasers had underestimated the scale of investment and time required to turnaround the Matches business.
Frasers Group has gradually increased its shareholding of online apparel specialists Boohoo, where it is now the largest single shareholder, and Asos.
The conglomerate has also been looking to expand its sportswear portfolio. In January 2024 it acquired the assets and IP of CrossFit and fitness performance brand WIT Fitness as part of its wider strategy to become a world-leading sports retailer.
