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Berghaus Nordic AS establishing brand in core outdoor sector

25 Nov '10

3 min read

The agreement has been signed between The Pentland Group, owner of the Berghaus brand, and Norway based Bertel O. Steen (BoS), which owns the Faun Sports Group. Berghaus Nordic AS will start trading from 1 January 2011.

Berghaus Nordic AS will be responsible for managing the brand throughout Scandinavia, Iceland and Finland. From an office based in the Oslo area, the structure of the new company will incorporate product development, sales and marketing. Launching for the autumn/winter 2011 season, Berghaus Nordic AS will initially focus on building business in Norway, establishing the brand in the core outdoor sector with clothing and equipment from the technical Extrem and Mountain ranges, and products that emerge from the new MtnHaus innovation programme.

Berghaus has traded in Scandinavia for over 25 years and is well known in Norway, which has traditionally strong links to North East England, where the brand was founded in 1966. Through the partnership, Berghaus Nordic AS will share some of the facilities of the BoS sports and outdoor division, which has been operating in the market since 1977. The company will be managed by a board consisting of Andy Long and Richard Cotter from The Pentland Group, Haakon Nygaard from the Faun Sports Group and Leif Holst Liaker, CEO of Viking Footwear.

Richard Cotter, Berghaus brand president, comments:
“The Nordic region is a very important territory in the European outdoor sector. Although Berghaus has been present there for many years, this development is extremely significant. On one hand, it delivers a great partnership for us with Bertel O. Steen, an organisation that has great credibility and established relationships in the market. On the other, it sends out a clear signal that Berghaus is making a serious and long term commitment to Scandinavia, Iceland and Finland. As a company in its own right, Berghaus Nordic AS will have the ability and wherewithal to invest in and maximise the brand's potential in the market, starting with Norway but soon making inroads throughout the region.”

Haakon Nygaard, president of Faun Sports, a fully owned subsidiary of Bertel O. Steen, adds:
“Berghaus has a long and rich heritage in Scandinavia. Although the brand's business in the region has been small in recent years, it is still regarded as one of Europe's leading technical outdoor companies. Harnessed well, the potential for Berghaus Nordic AS is very substantial and working closely with The Pentland Group, I believe that we have created a company that will soon become a major force in the Nordic outdoor market.”

Trond Vigar Sagen, vice president of Bertel O. Steen, adds:
“Berghaus Nordic AS represents a very powerful partnership that has great commercial potential in the region. Bertel O. Steen relishes the opportunity to work with The Pentland Group and together I believe that we will build Berghaus Nordic AS into a long term and very successful business.”

Staff for Berghaus Nordic AS will be recruited over the next few weeks, including a general manager, who will be responsible for running the company and representing the brand in the Nordic region. Other details about the new company will be communicated to customers and other partners in the market in the near future.

The Pentland Group

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