Revenue nears £340m at Manchester-based family-owned clothing firm behind Regatta, Dare2Be and Craghoppers
Profits have surged at a Manchester-based outdoor clothing specialist.
Founded in 1981, the Regatta Group is a family-run business based in Urmston, with offices and distribution centres worldwide.
It is led by siblings Keith Black and Joanne Black, having been passed down by their father Lionel, the group is home to four distinct brands, Regatta Great Outdoors, Craghoppers, Dare2b, and Regatta Professional.
In the past year, revenue has pushed close to the £340m mark, with profits jumping by nearly £3m. Bosses say their brands “have never been in greater demand”, and look forward to even more growth next year.
The stats
According to official company reports, results for the group covering the year to January 31 2025, showed revenue grew by five per cent to £338m while operating profits jumped from £11.9m to £14.2m. Underlying EBITDA rose from £19m to £21m.
The results were achieved despite macro-economic factors, including inflation and pressure on the supply chain. In a commentary within the accounts, Regatta was said to have been well-placed to respond to these external headwinds through strategic review and close cost management.
CEO and co-owner Keith Black said: “I am delighted to see our recent significant investment in people, systems, service and product deliver strong growth, and we are now able to capitalise on the opportunities we see in the market to their fullest extent.
"Our brands have never been in better shape or in greater demand, and we are very excited for the future."
Changes
A new software system was implemented in the previous financial year, which the company said “provided a "coherent, modern platform" which has enabled them to deliver further improvements and efficiencies across its IT infrastructure.
During the year, the group disposed of a warehouse in Cork, Ireland, enabling it to focus on delivering from its core distribution centres in Ellesmere Port, UK and Poznan, Poland. This disposal, combined with the strong trading results and effective working capital initiatives, resulted in a £23.3m year-on-year improvement in cash availability, transitioning the Group from a net debt position to net cash.
Looking forward, the group said it continues to embrace automation and efficiency across all channels and platforms. A strong performance was said to have been achieved in the current year to date, showing growth in turnover and improvement in profitability.
Full year sales forecast looks strong, with projected growth of 6 per cent.