French Connection, the High Street fashion chain, has vowed to win over US shoppers with a major store opening drive.

The retailer, known for its controversial advertising slogans, will double its number of stores and launch a public relations offensive.

The move comes after French Connection agreed a £22.8 million deal to buy the remaining 50 per cent stake in its US-based business Best of All Clothing (BAC), the exclusive wholesaler of its brand across the Atlantic.

Chief executive Stephen Marks hailed the move as a significant landmark in the London-based company's global expansion.

He said: "French Connection in the UK has grown far quicker than it has in the US. The potential is three or four times greater than the rest of the world.

"We have a tremendous base in the US and it is now up to us to build our presence there."

BAC currently has 24 French Connection stores in the US, although that figure will now double in the wake of the latest deal.

New openings will include a flagship store in San Francisco, a replica of the shop French Connection opened in Oxford Street last year.

It will be accompanied by an intense PR and marketing drive, Mr Marks said.

"With the general public in the US, we are not very well known. We have a big task to get ourselves across to the public."

French Connection also said it would look to licensees to expand the brand.

The new deal has been struck with retailer Michael Axelrod, a joint venture partner in BAC.

Meanwhile, French Connection said turnover and activity in the second half of its financial year had been in line with market expectations.