Karrimor Saved From Liquidation

Lancashire-based outdoors brand Karrimor has been sold within 24 hours of going into receivership saving it from liquidation.

The new owners are boxing specialists Lonsdale Sports who take over the wholesale business, the Karrimor brand names, intellectual property rights and seven of its retail outlets in Clayton-le-Moors, Manchester, Cambridge, Brighton, Nottingham, London St Pauls and London Wardour Street. The corporate rescue and recovery specialists handling the sale are looking for buyers for the remaining 20 retail outlets.

It's too early to say what will become of the company and its 250 employees - 60 based at its Lancashire HQ and the remainder at its retail outlets - but this is the latest upheaval for thr troubled company which has changed owners several times in the past few years.

It has a very strong brand name both in the outdoors and cycling markets, but recently has moved towards branded Karrimor shops and in March 2003 bought a number of the YHA Adventure Shops when that company went into administration.

It would be very sad if a company with Karrimor's tremendous tradition were to disappear from the outdoors scene. It was founded in 1946 making cycle bags in a Lancashire cycle workshop, moved into outdoors packs in the 50s and has worked with legendary climbers including Joe Brown, Don Whillans and Dougal Haston - packs used and designed by them are displayed in the foyer at Karrimor's HQ.

The company also produced the legendary Karrimat and KSB boots. Recently though it's been innovating less and less in a very competitive market. It remains to be seen what direction the new owners will take. We'll let you know when we have more details.