Adventure apparel and outdoor equipment retailer Kathmandu has begun to reoccupy some of its offices which were shut-down due to the earthquake in Christchurch last Tuesday.
As reported on the Ragtrader website last week, the New-Zealand based retailer closed three of its Christchurch-based stores, and suffered some damage to its head office and New Zealand distribution centre.
As announced on the Australian Securities Exchange this morning, Kathmandu has inspected its head office in Christchurch, all services to the building have been restored and most staff will return to work in that office from today.
The New Zealand distribution centre requires some remedial wok before staff are able to return to work , and this is expected to be completed today. All racking in the warehouse remains intact and normal restocking across the full New Zealand network is expected resume by the end of the week.
Kathmandu's largest store, Tower Junction, re-opened on Friday, but the retailer's other two Christchurch -based stores in Riccarton and central city (Cashel Street) remain closed due to earthquake damage.
Kathmandu chief executive Peter Halkett said he anticipates the Cashel Street store in particular will remain closed for an extended period.
“Given the scale of damage to that area, and the comments to date from public authorities dealing with the recovery operation, unfortunately we are planning for a period of months rather than weeks before we can operate from our central city store,” he said.
“We have been unable to have our Cashel Street and Ricarrton stores inspected so far, and we can't therefore comment specifically on the degree of damage they have sustained.”