STEPPING UP GEIGER EXPANDS FOOTPRINT

KURT Geiger is stepping up its presence on UK high streets, despite lockdowns hitting the shoe firm’s sales by more than £150 million.

The chain, owned by private equity firm Cinven, has this year committed to opening eight new stores, in locations including Stratford and Brixton.

New accounts filed showed the move to invest came even after the pandemic severely hurt trade in the year to January 2021.

Kurt Geiger, which has more than 70 stores and 530 concessions worldwide, recorded a pre-tax loss of £19.4 million, compared with a £40 million profit in the prior year. Turnover plunged to £192.3 million from £347 million.