Mountain Warehouse to open more stores amid return to profit

The retail chain said it has opened 20 stores over the past six months and has a ‘strong’ pipeline of new locations.

Mountain Warehouse has opened 20 stores since the end of February and wants to open more outlets (Anthony Devlin/PA) (PA Archive)

Mountain Warehouse has pledged to open more stores across the UK amid a boom in demand for outdoor clothing.

The retail chain said it has opened 20 stores over the past six months and has a “strong” pipeline of new locations, including more shops at retail parks.

It came as the company revealed it returned to a profit over the year to February 2024 after more shoppers returned to stores.

Mountain Warehouse delivered a £26.2 million pre-tax profit for the year, jumping from a £1.5 million loss a year earlier as it continued to be weighed down from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The company, which employs around 3,700 people across the UK, said this was buoyed by record sales over the year.

In the UK we see the potential for 50 new sites but we are constantly reassessing the market and will be looking at relocations as well

Mark Neale, Mountain Warehouse founder and chief executive

Revenues jumped by 4% to £386 million, boosted by a 7.1% improvement from its stores.

This was aided by the opening and relocation of 28 new shops over the year, as it continued with its expansion programme.

Mark Neale, founder and chief executive officer of Mountain Warehouse, said the retailer has seen positive trading from recently opened shops and is planning more new sites.

“We are doing well in our new bigger shops so are looking for more of these sites,” he said.

“Rents have got more affordable so we are now taking on new stores that we might not have previously gone for.

“We’ve had really good access to some strong retail park and high street sites. We have been able to open up in 10 former Arcadia stores, a few former Wilko shops.

“In the UK we see the potential for 50 new sites but we are constantly reassessing the market and will be looking at relocations as well.”

The group has also benefitted from international growth, opening its first Australian branch as well as further sites in New Zealand and Canada.

Mr Neale said the company has also benefitted from the acquisition of Animal brand, opening a number of standalone Animal stores.

“It has helped us weatherproof the business, something we’ve paid a lot of attention to in recent years so that we have a strong business all year around,” he said.

“Acquiring Animal has also helped us reach many new customers. The brand is well-loved and we’re reinvigorating it for a new generation.”