Mountain Warehouse is stepping up the pace of new store openings after posting record half-year sales.

Mountain Warehouse is stepping up the pace of new store openings after posting record half-year sales of £171m in the six months to the end of August 2023

The outdoor clothing retailer - which has stores in Gloucester, Cheltenham, Stroud, Tewkesbury and Cirencester - said it was helped by the washout summer as it sold 350,000 waterproof jackets in July and August alone, reports Retail Gazette.

Mountain Warehouse plans to open a new branch every week in the run-up to Christmas, on top of 35 new shops last year.

It has a target of opening 50 more stores next year as shoppers return to high streets.

Mountain Warehouse saw sales surge 22.6% to £371m in the 12 months to the end of February 2023, the highest in the company's 26-year history.

However, the group posted a £1.5m loss due to soaring freight and energy costs.

Founder Mark Neale said: "During Covid there was a belief that nobody was ever going to go to a store again, and their days were numbered, but that's proved to be completely wide of the mark.

"Whilst our online business had a big boost during the pandemic and continues to go from strength to strength, our stores have bounced back with gusto showing that customers want to shop both channels."

Neale said Mountain Warehouse was having its "busiest Black Friday weekend ever" with sales of more than £10m.

He added: "The current cold snap may not be to everyone's liking, but if you need outdoor clothing to keep you warm and dry this winter Mountain Warehouse has some great products at fantastic prices both in store and online."