A decision by the House of Fraser to open a major department store in Dundrum Town Centre would mark the return to the Irish market of this major UK multiple.
The group owned the famous Switzers store on Grafton Street until it sold it to Brown Thomas in 1993. BT sold its old store on the opposite side of Grafton Street to Marks & Spencer and now trades out of the redeveloped Switzers building.
If the Dundrum store goes ahead, it will be one of four new outlets planned by the group as part of a major expansion programme. It recently announced plans to set up five other stores which will take the group's portfolio to 56.
The group, which likes to dub itself the UK's leading designer brand retailer, is constantly on the lookout for new labels - from luxury goods such as Fendi to young fashion brands like Porn Star and Playboy - to pull in shoppers.
Fashion accounts for more than 70 per cent of sales. Among its own brands, Linea Petites has been doing well since it was launched in 23 stores. It also stocks other leading names such as Burberry, Longchamp, Furla and Dunhill. The company had pre-tax profits last year of £17.8 million sterling.