The British outdoor equipment manufacturer Equip Outdoor Technologies, owner of the Rab and Lowe Alpine brands, is setting the course for a new phase of growth. The company announced a strengthened leadership structure, a £48.5 million sustainability-linked funding package from HSBC UK and ambitious growth targets for the coming years.
Equip is continuing its growth path and was able to increase sales to 117 million pounds (137 million euros) in the 2026 financial year. In the previous year, sales were 106.4 million pounds (124 million euros), in 2024 they were 105.8 million pounds (124 million euros). Based on this development, the company is now planning annual sales growth of 40 percent over the next three years.
CEO Richard Leedham sees the company well positioned: Growth in Europe as well as expansion in North America and other international markets would create the basis for the next phase of sustainable development.
New management structure supports expansion
To support the planned growth, Equip has adjusted its management structure. Former CFO Rob Maynard will take on the newly expanded role of Chief Operating Officer (COO). In the future, he will also be responsible for purchasing, procurement, inventory management, analytics as well as IT and systems.
The company is also being strengthened by Richard Pinner, who has been working as Buying and Sourcing Director since May 2026. The former Pentland Brands manager brings extensive experience in global sourcing and product development.
Millions invested in new logistics location
The core of the growth strategy is a financing package from HSBC UK worth 48.5 million pounds (56 million euros). Equip plans to use the funds to acquire and expand a new 2.4 hectare logistics site in Alfreton, Derbyshire. Among other things, the installation of a large-scale solar system is planned.
In the future, the new location will bundle all warehouse and operational processes as well as British production of the Rab brand. The company expects this to result in greater efficiency, additional jobs and long-term security of regional employment. The financing was structured as a Sustainability Improvement Loan and is linked to sustainability goals. With this, HSBC recognizes the company’s ESG achievements and its long-term sustainability strategy. Equip and the Rab brand recently received B Corp certification. The company plans to publish further information on its sustainability and climate protection measures in the Rab Impact Report 2026, which will be published on June 11th.