Berghaus has a firm foothold

Mar 5 2008 by Graeme King, The Journal

OUTDOOR clothing company Berghaus is getting very big in Japan after signing up partners to get its products into 180 stores by the end of next year.

The Sunderland company currently only sells its fleeces, boots and other outdoor gear from nine outlets in Japan, though a deal with retailer Marui.

But now Berghaus boss Richard Cotter has signed up with a second partner, Arugo Active, to take the company’s goods into 100 stores by the end of 2008 and 180 a year after that.

There are also plans to eventually open up a dedicated Berghaus store in Japan, as has already proved successful in South Korea.

Mr Cotter said: “This deal is Berghaus’s second step in fulfilling our ambitions in the Japanese market. Arugo Active is a highly regarded business, with an outstanding track record, and I am confident that the team there will build Berghaus Japan into a major force across the country.

“This partnership will play a key role in the delivery of our global strategy to become one of the world’s top five outdoor brands.”