Kathmandu opens four new stores

Peter Halkett of retailer Kathmandu. Photo / Richard Robinson

Outdoor clothing retailer Kathmandu Holdings is opening four new stores in Australia and New Zealand.

Today, the Christchurch-based retailer will open stores at Whakatane, Westfield Southland in Melbourne, Wagga Wagga in NSW, and Cairns in Queensland.

It comes as the company assesses its interruption insurance after a destructive earthquake struck Christchurch in February, forcing the closure of one central business district store.

Kathmandu chief executive Peter Halkett said the retailer had already opened eight stores in Australia this financial year, and one in New Zealand.

"We are pleased to be able to cater to customers in those areas who could only purchase our products online until now," he said.

The additional stores take Kathmandu's network across Australia and New Zealand to 104 outlets.

A series of aftershocks disrupted operations in Christchurch on Monday, but the company expects to reopen all of the disrupted stores later this week.

"Kathmandu's operations in Christchurch have experienced disruption as a result of the most recent earthquake aftershocks, but the company expects it will be business as usual within the next couple of days," he said.

- AAP