Meaning of "branched out"

[Malkin]

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #84 "ESL Prepositions", question 8

The clothing manufacturer recently branched ......... into sport's wear.

(a) out
(b) in
(c) off
(d) back

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #84 "ESL Prepositions", answer 8

The clothing manufacturer recently branched out into sport's wear.

Correct answer: (a) out

Your answer was: correct
_________________________

hi,

why "branched out"?

Malkin

[Alan]

Hi,

The sense of 'branch out' here is try a new market. If for example a shop that usually only sells food and newspapers decides also to sell electrical goods as well. it is said to be 'branching out into a new market.'

A
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Reflections

[Saneta]

Please tell me what is the difference between:''branch out'' and ''branch off'', because these expressions translated into Polish mean the same.
And tell me in the addition, I should write:,,Please tell me what is difference between:...'' or ,,Please tell me what the difference is between:...''
Thanks a lot!!!