“It’s the landlords that can’t keep up with our pace”: Rodd & Gunn’s Mike Beagley on the brand’s UK expansion, its “honest” approach, and his ambition to open a pub
27th February 2026 New Zealand-based menswear brand Rodd & Gunn’s expansion into the UK physical retail market has been steadily gaining momentum. In 2025, the brand opened four new stores and is now targeting double-digit openings across the UK in 2026 and is in discussions to secure its first shopping centre locations. These targets are backed by strong growth in sales, which were up by 19% on a like-for-like basis in stores and 26% online in 2025. “Our covenant is strong, we’ve got a global business and it’s been growing consistently over a long period of time”, says Mike Beagley, CEO of Rodd & Gunn. “Retail is a tough business, but it’s also very rewarding if you put the effort in” he tells Completely Retail News. He’s speaking from Auckland, where it’s a late summer evening. “It’s the reason I’m up working at this time of night and will be on later”, he says. On this side of the planet, the retailer is now looking to expand its current estate. Rodd & Gunn currently operates 10 standalone stores in the UK – located in London, Exeter, Bath, Winchester, Cheltenham, Chester, York, Ashford, Glasgow, and Edinburgh – with four more set to open by...
