Media Announcements

NEW KATHMANDU STORE IN PREMIER NZ RETAIL PRECINCT

Kathmandu, the listed outdoor clothing and equipment retailer, has opened a new store at Newmarket in Auckland, one of New Zealand’s premier retail shopping precincts.

The multi-level store at Broadway, on Newmarket’s main shopping strip, will be one of the biggest Kathmandu stores in New Zealand, with more than 1200 sq m of retail space.

Chief Executive Peter Halkett said Newmarket’s reputation as a first-class shopping destination combined with the prominent location on the Broadway augured well for Kathmandu.

“Newmarket attracts shoppers from all over Auckland, as well as visitors to the city. We regard it as one of the best retail opportunities in New Zealand,” Mr Halkett said.

The store will employ 19 staff.

Kathmandu has a network of 40 stores across New Zealand, with another 70 in Australia, and six in the UK. 

Kathmandu’s existing Newmarket store will now operate as an outlet store. 

For more information please call: Helen McCombie +61 411 756 248

CONSTRUCTION OF KATHMANDU DISTRIBUTION CENTRE ON TRACK

Construction of Kathmandu’s new national distribution centre is well underway in Christchurch, with completion set for next April.

Building work on the outdoor clothing and equipment retailer’s distribution centre started in September at the Portlink Industrial Park, Hillsborough, and it’s anticipated that the roof will be finished by the end of December. 

Kathmandu Chief Executive, Peter Halkett said the work was marginally ahead of schedule and Arcus, the developer of the project had been able to take advantage of a lull in construction activity before the rebuild of Christchurch started next year. 

“We are delighted with the progress made on the distribution centre. Kathmandu believes in the economic future of Christchurch and is committed to the company’s heritage there where we have been trading for over 20 years,” Mr Halkett said. 

The new centre is expected to be operational by August and will supply the company’s existing 41 New Zealand stores  as well as meeting the demands of the company’s future growth, which involves Kathmandu’s on-going store roll-out program, growth in online business and the expansion of the company’s product range. 

Kathmandu has recently opened a store in the new Startup Christchurch project in Cashel Street and also at the Palms. 

Kathmandu has entered into a long term lease agreement with expansion rights at the 30-hectare industrial park, which is being developed by Arcus Developments Ltd.

Arcus is a specialist in the development of industrial buildings and is working in partnership with one of New Zealand’s leading construction and project management companies Arrow International Ltd. 

The Portlink site has 22 Ha of Business 4 zoned land providing for a diverse range of logistics activities, warehousing, manufacturing and services industries. 

For more information please call: Helen McCombie +61 29290 3073 or +61 411 756 248.

KATHMANDU LAUNCHES FREE ONLINE DELIVERY

Outdoor clothing and equipment retailer Kathmandu today launched free delivery for all products bought online.

Until now Kathmandu customers needed to pay for delivery unless they ordered $150 worth of goods.

But from today all orders online in Australia and New Zealand will be free.

Kathmandu Chief Executive Peter Halkett said the company wanted to reward its loyal Summit Club members who drive a significant proportion of online sales.

“We are always trying to offer customers more value for money and offering free delivery is another way we can give them something  extra,” Mr Halkett said.

“We recently conducted a free delivery trial and found the customer response was fantastic, which is why we decided to introduce the new initiative”

More than 550,000 people belong to the Summit Club.

Online trading for Kathmandu is the equivalent of sales from a mid-sized store in Australia and New Zealand.

ENDS

KATHMANDU PARTNERS WITH AUSTRALIAN HIMALAYAN FOUNDATION

Kathmandu today announced that it had become a partner of the Australian Himalayan Foundation which provides assistance to the people of the Himalaya.

The Foundation supports Himalayan communities to achieve improvements in education, health and medical services, and environment and conservation.

Chief Executive Peter Halkett said the partnership was part of the company’s Sustainability Plan which focuses on strengthening communities and will allow Kathmandu to give back to the region which had been the inspiration for the company’s name.

Kathmandu is supporting the Teacher Training and Quality Education Program in the Solu Khumbu (Everest) region of Nepal.

"We thank Kathmandu so much for their fantastic support for our projects, and we are looking forward to working closely with the company and its Summit Club members to help the people of the Himalaya achieve their goals”, said AHF Chairman, Simon Balderstone.

Mr Halkett said Kathmandu was looking forward to a long term relationship with the Australian Himalayan Foundation.

“Its projects are set up and managed in a way that makes them truly viable and sustainable and that aligns with Kathmandu’s Sustainability Plan,” Mr Halkett said. “We are currently working with the Foundation to identify opportunities which can involve Summit Club members and expect to be able to provide details in the near future”.

Kathmandu is also an active supporter of Red Cross in Australia and New Zealand.

As part of their Sustain the Dream Sustainability Plan Kathmandu also aims to minimise its environmental footprint, respect human rights and develop their team.

For more information please contact: Helen McCombie +61 2 9290 3073.

KATHMANDU EXPANDS GEOGRAPHIC REACH

Kathmandu Holdings Limited, the listed outdoor clothing and equipment retailer, is expanding its Australian and New Zealand network with the opening of four new stores tomorrow (June 15th).

The new stores are located at Westfield Southland in Melbourne, Wagga in New South Wales, Cairns in Queensland and Whakatane in New Zealand’s North Island.

Kathmandu Chief Executive, Peter Halkett, said the retailer had already opened eight stores in Australia in this financial year, and one in New Zealand.

“The new stores will be opened in time for Kathmandu’s Winter Sale, which starts on Thursday and we are pleased to be able to cater to customers in those areas who could only purchase our products online until now”, Mr Halkett said.

With the new locations, Kathmandu will have a network of 104 stores across Australia and New Zealand.

Kathmandu’s operations in Christchurch have experienced disruption as a result of the most recent earthquake aftershocks, but the company expects it will be business as usual within the next couple of days.

For more information please call: Helen McCombie +61 2 9290 3073.

NEW CHRISTCHURCH DISTRIBUTION CENTRE FOR KATHMANDU

Kathmandu Holdings Limited, the listed outdoor clothing and equipment retailer, has committed to the construction of a new national distribution centre in the Portlink Industrial Park in Christchurch.

The new centre will supply the company's existing 37 New Zealand stores and meet the demands of the company's future growth.

Kathmandu Chief Executive, Peter Halkett, said the increased warehouse space would support its on-going store roll-out program and the expansion of the company's product range.

"As a major player in outdoor gear for travel and adventure in Australasia, Kathmandu currently has its support office and national distribution centres in Christchurch and Melbourne. But with more than 100 stores across Australia and New Zealand, the company has been reviewing its future requirements," Mr Halkett said.

The current national distribution centre has been operating since 2000 when the company only had nine stores in New Zealand, but it has now reached full capacity and some stock has had to be stored offsite.

After examining a number of options, the Board has decided to build a new 5,000m2 facility at Woolston in Christchurch, near our head office," Mr Halkett said.

"We did consider the option of an alternative warehousing facility in Auckland but the Board decided that Christchurch was a superior proposition."

Construction of the national distribution centre at the Portlink site is scheduled to begin by the end of 2011, with the facility expected to be completed in May 2012 and operational by July 2012, Kathmandu has entered into a long term lease agreement with expansion rights at the 30-hectare industrial park.

"The decision also reflects the Kathmandu Board's belief in the economic future of Christchurch and its commitment to the company's heritage in Christchurch, where we have been trading for over 20 years," Mr Halkett said.

Over the next few months Kathmandu will open three new stores in New Zealand; at Whakatane, Coastlands north of Wellington and Ashburton in the South Island, which will bring the New Zealand store total to 40.

The Portlink project is being developed by Arcus Developments Ltd.

Arcus is a specialist in the development of industrial buildings and is working in partnership with one of New Zealand's leading construction and project management companies Arrow International Ltd.

For more information please contact: Helen McCombie +61 2 9290 3073