Mountain Warehouse

In 1997, Mountain Warehouse was founded as the retail partner of Karrimor International, the UK based outdoor clothing and equipment manufacturer.{{cite web|url=http://www.investindustrial.com/en/investments/mountain-warehouse |title=Mountain Warehouse |accessdate=10 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310214236/http://www.investindustrial.com/en/investments/mountain-warehouse |archivedate=10 March 2014 }} Investment company 21 Invest (now Investindustrial) were Karrimor's lead investor.

21 Invest sold Karrimor's core business to South African leisure group Cullinan Holdings in February 1999.{{cite web|url=http://www.inov8.au.com/compass/karrimorhistory.html |title=Karrimor History |accessdate=16 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310224950/http://www.inov8.au.com/compass/karrimorhistory.html |archivedate=10 March 2014 }} The stores, which were initially branded Karrimor, were subsequently re-branded to Mountain Warehouse. Under the new name, Mountain Warehouse began selling multi-branded outdoor clothing and equipment as well as its recently launched own brand of clothing.{{cite web |url=http://www.nbgipe.com/uk/investments/realised-investments/investment-detail/items/mountain-warehouse |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140310200521/http://www.nbgipe.com/uk/investments/realised-investments/investment-detail/items/mountain-warehouse |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 March 2014 |title=NBGI Private Equity "NBGI PE" - Investment detail |website=Nbgipe.com |date= |accessdate=16 June 2016 }}

In August 2002, NBGI Private Equity acquired the business from 21 Invest and managing Director Mark Neale, buying a majority stake in the company. CEO Neale reinvested most of his proceeds into the new acquisition. In the years that NBGI worked with Mountain Warehouse, their own brand product offering increased from 5% to 80%.{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.unquote.com/uk/official-record/2304651/ldc-sells-mountain-warehouse-to-management |title=LDC sells Mountain Warehouse to management |website=Unquote.com |date=4 November 2013 |accessdate=16 June 2016}}

In July 2007, Mountain Warehouse management around Neale bought out NBGI Private Equity for £15m, backed by Icelandic investment fund KCAJ.

In August 2010, the private-equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group, LDC, took a 23% minority stake in the business as part of another £47m buyout by Mountain Warehouse management.{{cite web|url=http://www.growthbusiness.co.uk/news-and-market-deals/mergers-and-acquisitions/2428557/mountain-warehouse-ends-private-equity-backing-and-takes-full-control.thtml |title=Mountain Warehouse ends private equity backing and takes full control |website=Growthbusiness.co.uk |date=4 November 2013 |accessdate=16 June 2016}}

In November 2013, the management team led by founder and CEO Mark Neale bought out minority shareholder LDC to take full ownership of the retail chain. Mr Neale personally owns 85% of the business. The £85m deal was backed by the Royal Bank of Scotland and asset management firm Alcentra.{{cite web|last=Ruddick |first=Graham |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10423813/Mountain-Warehouse-peaks-at-85m.html |title=Mountain Warehouse peaks at £85m |publisher=Telegraph |date= 3 November 2013|accessdate=16 June 2016}}

in 2017, Mountain Warehouse Holdings Limited, set up a new company ‘Zakti Activeware’ which was the new name for ‘Mountain Warehouse Active’ range, and transferred a lot of stock to the new stores.

In 2018, Mountain Warehouse Holdings Limited, set up another new company ‘Neon Sheep’ to break into the accessories market and so far is doing much better than Zakti Activeware.

On September 3, 2024, Mountain Warehouse acquired the US-based retailer Eastern Mountain Sports for $10 million.{{cite press release|url=https://www.ctinsider.com/business/article/ct-ems-danbury-meriden-waterford-bobs-mountain-19738981.php|website=ctinsider.com|title=Eastern Mountain Sports stores in CT purchased by UK-based Mountain Warehouse|access-date=2021-11-26}}

File:Ex-WoolworthsKeswick.JPG, Cumbria]]

Mountain Warehouse has over 330 stores in the UK, North America, Europe and New Zealand, including stores in Dublin, Ireland, Vienna, Austria, and stores in Poland including Warsaw.

The first Mountain Warehouse store opened in 1997. By August 2002 Mountain Warehouse had opened a further 13 stores in factory outlet centres in the UK and one in Vienna, as well as three concession stores in UK garden centres.{{cite web|url=http://www.investindustrial.com/attached_file?f%3Ddisposal-of-mountain-warehouse.pdf%26c%3D64db44250e87696b7664fb7c1e3c440a |title=Archived copy |accessdate=6 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201220925/http://www.investindustrial.com/attached_file?f=disposal-of-mountain-warehouse.pdf&c=64db44250e87696b7664fb7c1e3c440a |archivedate=1 February 2014 }}

The London Covent Garden store was the first of Mountain Warehouse's high street stores. By 2019 Mountain Warehouse opened a further 9 stores in London, located in popular areas such as Regent Street, Fulham and Wimbledon.

Mountain Warehouse purchased six of former Woolworths sites,{{cite web|last=Wallop |first=Harry |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/9022600/What-happened-to-all-the-Woolworths-shops.html |title=What happened to all the Woolworths shops? |publisher=Telegraph |date= 19 January 2012|accessdate=16 June 2016}} including Fort William, Scotland,{{cite web |title=Mountain Warehouse under new ownership |url=https://homeofdirectcommerce.com/news/mountain-warehouse-under-new-ownership/ |archiveurl= |archivedate= |accessdate=27 September 2022 |website=directcommerce.com|date=9 October 2007 }} St Ives, Cornwall{{cite web|last=Soult |first=Graham |url=http://www.soultsretailview.co.uk/2011/09/21/the-new-occupants-of-cornwalls-ex-woolies-plus-one-thats-still-empty |title=The new occupants of Cornwall's ex-Woolies - plus one that's still empty - Soult's Retail View |website=Soultsretailview.co.uk |date= 21 September 2011|accessdate=16 June 2016}} and Buxton, Derbyshire.{{cite web |url=http://www.buxtonadvertiser.co.uk/news/local/woolies-new-life-1-651144 |title=Woolies' new life |publisher=Buxton Advertiser |date=19 March 2009 |accessdate=16 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809180720/http://www.buxtonadvertiser.co.uk/news/local/woolies-new-life-1-651144 |archive-date=9 August 2016 |url-status=dead }}

Mountain Warehouse has continued to secure premises in market towns and locations popular with walkers and holidaymakers.{{cite web |url=http://www.ldc.co.uk/news/new-heights-for-mountain-warehouse-following-management-buy-back.aspx |title=News |website=LDC.co.uk |date= |accessdate=16 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030050920/http://www.ldc.co.uk/news/new-heights-for-mountain-warehouse-following-management-buy-back.aspx |archive-date=30 October 2015 |url-status=dead }}

On 9th March 2024, Mountain Warehouse opened its largest UK store yet on Boscawen Street in Truro, Cornwall.

Mountain Warehouse opened its first North America outlet store in Toronto, Ontario, Canada early 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.retail-insider.com/retail-insider/tail-insider.com/2014/01/mountain-warehouse-to-expand-into-canada.html |title=Mountain Warehouse to further expand into Canada |website=Retail-insider.com |date=15 January 2014 |accessdate=16 June 2016}} It has since further expanded to other North American locations including New Jersey, United States,{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2014/05/19/new-outdoors-retailer-coming-to-grove-city-premium.html|title=New outdoors retailer coming to Grove City Premium Outlets|website=Bizjournals.com|accessdate=16 June 2016}} Burlington, Canada{{cite web|url=https://www.mapleviewcentre.com/stores/equipment-clothing-nutrition-burlington/mountain-warehouse/ |title=Mapleview Mall Directory |website=www.mapleviewcentre.com}} and Vancouver, Canada.{{cite web|url=http://www.mountainwarehouse.com/stores/canada/vancouver-mcarthurglen/ |title=Store Locator |website=Mountainwarehouse.com |date= |accessdate=16 June 2016}}

Mountain Warehouse's headquarters are located in Victoria, London. A store is also located nearby in Victoria Place in London Victoria station.

Mountain Warehouse has grown from a stock clearance business selling only branded products to a business that sells mainly own brand clothing, footwear and equipment.{{cite web|last=White |first=Dominic |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/markets/2812004/Mountain-Warehouse-buyout.html |title=Mountain Warehouse buyout |publisher=Telegraph |date=12 July 2007 |accessdate=16 June 2016}} In 2004 own brands including Mountain Life, Parallel and Snapdragon made up 10% of the business's products but by 2007 own brand products made up 65%.

In 2010 the retailer introduced a more technical clothing range, Mountainlife Extreme. The Mountainlife Extreme clothing range was designed to compete with higher end brands such as The North Face and Berghaus.{{cite web |url=http://www.ldc.co.uk/News/LDC-private-equity-buys-significant-stake-in-outdoor-specialist-Mountain-Warehouse.aspx |title=News |website=Ldc.co.uk |date= |accessdate=16 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310214250/http://www.ldc.co.uk/News/LDC-private-equity-buys-significant-stake-in-outdoor-specialist-Mountain-Warehouse.aspx |archive-date=10 March 2014 |url-status=dead }}

The Mountainlife and Parallel branding has gradually been phased out with all clothing, footwear and equipment now branded with Mountain Warehouse. Mountainlife Extreme was replaced by Mountain Warehouse Extreme, with footwear, accessories and equipment also included in the range.

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• {{official website|http://www.mountainwarehouse.com/}}

Category:Retail companies of the United Kingdom

Category:Retail companies established in 1997

Category:Camping equipment manufacturers

Category:Outdoor clothing brands

Category:British brands