Mountain Warehouse has acquired Eastern Mountain Sports in a US$10mn (£7.6mn) rescue deal, saving 100 jobs and seven profitable stores.
EMS filed for Chapter 11 protection in June, and will continue to trade as a standalone brand. There may even be expansion into more territories including Canada and Europe in the near future following the Mountain Warehouse deal.
Mark Neale, founder and CEO of Mountain Warehouse, said: “We plan to retain the iconic EMS brand, which has a great heritage and DNA and resonates with huge numbers of long-standing customers. We will also continue to work with the highest-quality and best-known outdoor brands in the world to stabilise and then grow the business.
“We are convinced that there is a great business here, with a tremendous pedigree, and passionate people who can help us understand the market even better and create a bright future.”
A company profile in the RetailX USA Growth 2000 report 2024 looks at how the British outdoor brand has expanded into the key US market.
Mountain Warehouse started out in 1997, when Neale opened its first shop in the UK. Since then, the retail brand has expanded to sell products that are designed in-house and made in the Far East from more than 350 shops in eight countries, through ten websites – including the US – and through third-party marketplaces including Amazon. It states its mission is “to help everyone enjoy the great outdoors”.
Looking ahead, it outlined a strategy of online growth, range expansion and the development of its own marketplace, launched in May 2023. It plans a customer-first approach, while it is targeting net zero by 2040, through a strategy of using recycled and organic materials, while reducing plastic and energy use. It also plans to relocate its stores to larger sites in out-of-town locations and to build a world class supply chain.
The full Mountain Warehouse profile can be read in the USA Growth 2000 2024 report.
It explores how these dynamic retailers have grown through elevating customer experience, product offerings and strategic investments. Throughout the report all our data is illustrated through RetailX’s signature graphics and in-depth company profiles.
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