From Passeig de Gràcia in Barcelona to Fifth Avenue in New York, and beyond, to 120 countries and 2,800 points of sale. This is the trajectory marking Mango's borderless growth in its 40-year journey.
The CEO of the company, Toni Ruiz, received the Business Leader of the Year award in New York on Wednesday night, presented by the Spain-US Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes his “leadership and vision” in consolidating Mango, which opened its first store on Passeig de Gràcia in the Catalan capital in 1984, as a major global fashion company.
Under his leadership, Ruiz is leading one of the fastest expansions of physical stores in the United States in the past two years. The presence in North America began in 2006. However, his expansion plan began in 2022 with the opening in May 2020 of his flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City. That was the seventh U.S. store but marked the takeoff. By 2024, they already have 42 stores. And in 2025, the company will accelerate that expansion by opening 23 more stores, two per month, until reaching 65 by the end of that year.
To continue this plan, your investment between 2024 and 2026 will amount to over $100 million in the U.S., which will play a significant role in job creation. From 30 workers in 2020, to 640 today, and they will reach 1,200 next year.
“We are at the best moment in our history, and there is no doubt that the development of the United States market is one of our key milestones. Succeeding in the U.S. is a great challenge,” underscored after receiving the award.
“We will adapt,” he replied in response to Trump's tariffs
Previously, Ruiz responded to journalists with a “we will adapt” when questioned about the threat of tariffs promised by the next President of the United States, Donald Trump. “We operate in 120 markets and wake up every day to news close to us. We will see what happens, but our commitment to the U.S. market is long-term,” he added.
The gala, held at the majestic Cipriani restaurant in the financial district of Manhattan, was attended by over 200 representatives from politics, business, and the media from the United States and Spain. Some of the attendees included the Spanish Ambassador to the United States, Ángeles Moreno; the Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment at the U.S. Department of State, José Fernández; the Consul General of Spain in New York, Marta de Blas; and the Chamber President, Alan Solomont, former U.S. Ambassador to Spain.
Toni Ruiz receives the award in New York
The “Business Leader of the Year” award distinguishes each year the business leaders who have made a significant contribution to the economic growth of Spain and the United States, and to the improvement of commercial relations between both countries.
The Chamber of Commerce specifically awarded Ruiz for “his extensive professional career, his strong commitment to the US market, and his significant contributions that have solidified the company's status as a major player in the fashion industry worldwide, with a rapidly growing presence and recognition in the United States”.
The U.S. is currently one of the top five markets for Mango and the leading online sales market. The company aims to have this country among the top three in terms of revenue by the end of 2026.
According to the institution, “Ruiz's visionary leadership, dedication, and experience have driven notable advances in revenue, brand recognition, and global reach” of the company. Additionally, “his commitment to digitalization and eco-design has positioned Mango as a pioneer in sustainable practices within the fashion industry.” And he continued: “From leading the brand's expansion in the United States to fostering innovation, Ruiz's tireless efforts ensure the continuous success and growth of the company.”
In his speech, the CEO of the company, where he joined in 2015, did not forget about either the work team or the roots.
“This award is not just for me, but for the entire Mango team, which has worked tirelessly to make this iconic brand what it is today, a key player in the international fashion industry,” he emphasized, making a special mention of Shane Grenley, the manager in the USA."
“Mango is the story of the vision of Isak Andic, our founder and non-executive chairman,” praised for his gaze towards the beginning of everything, towards the originator and his vision of creating a global brand from Barcelona that brings fashion closer to the world.
“His entrepreneurial mindset, his international vision, and his open spirit were an inspiration. These principles, deeply connected with our values, have been the guiding light throughout Mango's history and have helped us achieve record milestones. Last year, we surpassed 3.1 billion euros in sales for the first time in our history, entering a new era of growth,” he stated. The goal is to reach 4 billion by 2026.
“When we opened our flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York in 2022, we were not only strengthening our presence in the U.S. market. We were making a promise: a long-term commitment to bring the best of Mango to a global stage. We are here to stay and continue growing,” he pointed out.
“Developing the American market is a great challenge. It is not easy to understand its idiosyncrasies, and it is a market with demanding customers who push us to bring out our best version,” he asserted.
The expansion plan was launched in the Big Apple and has reached nine states so far, with particular relevance in Florida and California. “Few companies in the world have had this dynamic and such a rapid expansion,” he insisted. “It is a recognition of our style, design, and high quality,” he reiterated. From the operational center in Barcelona, Ruiz concluded with a brief and forceful statement: “The future is Mango.”
