Cushman & Wakefield has been appointed by UK sports retail chain JD Sports to assist with its expansion plans in France.

The property agent has been mandated to look for high street and shopping centre locations for a significant number of stores. The size of the stores will vary from 400 m2 to 1,000 m2.

The JD Group currently trades from about 500 stores operating in both the sports and branded fashion markets. In 2009 the JD Group acquired Chausport which operates from 75 stores throughout France.

Nigel Keen, group property director, JD Sports, said, 'We are targeting the main urban areas across France to build upon the successful opening of three trial stores in Lille, Paris (Evry 2) and Lyons.'