DFS Group has confirmed it is examining its best options if it should decide to enter into the European marketplace, according to CEO Philippe Schaus.

Asked whether there is room for DFS in a European market which is already quite crowded, Schaus told TRBusiness last month that he believes there is: “Europe is one of the key destinations and dream destinations for most emerging market customers. In any analysis you do about dream destinations, Europe comes up. Europe is also easily accessible with the whole visa procedure; it is quite simple to travel around Europe.

“It is absolutely natural, given the growth of tourists into Europe that we look at Europe. But your question of course is justified; is there room for somebody like us?

“We believe that we have to have a reason to enter Europe; we have to be able to enter the market knowing that we will be bringing something to it that doesn’t exist right now; otherwise it makes no sense.”

Schaus said that even though DFS is looking in that direction, it is still dependent on a few factors: “We’re looking at a couple of projects at the moment where we believe we can make a difference. If we can remedy all other aspects – such as the right location, the right structure of organisation etc – then we will go ahead.”

Asked about DFS’ consultation work with La Samaritaine – the iconic large French department store set reopen in 2014 – Schaus said: “Well we are working on that project together with LVMH, which owns the building and we have been advising them on different ways of using it. It is under construction right now, under transformation, so something is going to happen.”