Blacks Outdoor Retail
A British outdoor retailer operating Blacks, Millets and Ultimate Outdoors, with a heritage in camping, hiking and mountaineering equipment.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Blacks Outdoor Retail Ltd. is a United Kingdom outdoor-goods retailer and the operating business associated with the Blacks and Millets chains, as well as Ultimate Outdoors. Its roots lie in the Scottish canvas and tent-making business Thomas Black and Sons of Greenock. The company developed from a manufacturer and hirer of tents, marquees and camping equipment into a nationwide specialist retailer selling outdoor clothing, footwear, camping equipment, climbing and mountaineering products, and related leisure goods. The underlying business has a long manufacturing and retail history. Thomas Black began a sail-making business in Greenock in 1863. After the decline of commercial sailing, the family redirected the business toward canvas products, including tents and marquees. It supplied large tents and other equipment during the First World War, introduced the Good Companions catalogue in 1931, and manufactured tents, sleeping bags and other canvas goods for the armed forces during the Second World War. The Greenock works were destroyed during wartime bombing in 1941, after which production was re-established at Port Glasgow. Blacks subsequently expanded through acquisitions and branches in Britain and North America. From the late 1960s, the business increasingly used acquisitions and corporate transactions to build a retail group. In 1970 it completed a reverse takeover of Milletts Stores, becoming Blacks Camping and Leisure. A further transaction involving Greenfield Leisure followed in 1984, although most of the acquired Greenfield stores were later sold after proving unprofitable. The Blacks Leisure Group was formed in 1985. It acquired the Outdoor Group, including Millets and Free Spirit, in 1999, thereby creating a broader multi-brand outdoor retail platform. During the early 2000s it sold its First Sport sports-retail division to JD Sports, acquired Famous Army Stores, bought the Just Add Water chain and purchased outdoor outlets from The Scout Association. An expansion programme, particularly through retail-park stores, was followed by severe financial pressure. The group recorded substantial losses in 2008–09, while its Free Spirit and O'Neill operations performed poorly. In 2009 the company entered a company voluntary arrangement with creditors and closed or exited many loss-making locations. It also dealt with the collapse of Sandcity, the UK O'Neill licence holder, and ultimately relinquished the relevant wholesale licence. A proposed takeover offer from Sports Direct was resisted in early 2010, but the company remained financially vulnerable. The group was put up for sale in December 2011 and entered administration in 2012. JD Sports Fashion acquired the majority of the retailer's stores and retained most of its employees in a cash transaction reported at £20 million. Following the acquisition, Blacks' headquarters moved to JD Sports' offices in Bury, Greater Manchester. The transaction allowed the retail operations to continue under new ownership while separating them from the former group's financial difficulties. Blacks and Millets subsequently returned to profitability, with JD Sports reporting that the outdoor business was profitable again in 2017 after almost a decade of losses. Blacks has traditionally been associated with serious walking, hiking, camping and mountaineering equipment, but its assortment has broadened to include outdoor fashion, running apparel, footwear and products from multiple third-party brands. Millets serves a related value-oriented and general outdoor market, while Ultimate Outdoors provides another specialist outdoor retail format. Store numbers and formats have changed over time as JD Sports has integrated the chains into its wider outdoor portfolio; source material reports that many former Blacks and Millets locations have been converted to Go Outdoors, leaving a smaller number of stores under the original banners. The business remains active as part of JD Sports Fashion's out…
History
The business that became Blacks Outdoor Retail originated with Thomas Black's sail-making operation in Greenock, Scotland, established in 1863. In the early twentieth century, the family adapted the company to the decline of sail-powered shipping by making tents, marquees and other canvas products. Equipment hire became part of the business, with staff erecting tents for customers. The company expanded its retail presence, opened a London showroom in 1928 and supplied large quantities of tents for events, including Iceland's 1930 parliamentary-millennium celebrations. Blacks promoted lightweight camping through its Good Companions catalogue, first published in 1931. Its products were used on long-distance journeys, helping to publicise the company's camping equipment. During the First World War it produced hospital marquees, army tents and ambulance covers. During the Second World War it manufactured tents, down sleeping bags and other canvas products for the armed forces, and supplied naval fenders. The Greenock premises were destroyed by wartime bombing in May 1941. Production later resumed at a new industrial facility at Port Glasgow, opened in 1948. After the war, Blacks used acquisitions and new branches to broaden its distribution. It acquired Camp and Sports Co-operators in 1946 and City Camp & Sports of Birmingham in 1953. A Canadian subsidiary opened in 1958, followed by a warehouse in Ogdensburg, New York, in 1962. During the 1960s the group acquired outdoor and camping businesses including Jackson & Warr and, in 1967, Benjamin Edgington, a long-established tent, flag and marquee maker. These transactions added manufacturing capacity and sales infrastructure. In 1970 Blacks engineered a reverse takeover of Milletts Stores, a retailer with 28 stores. The combined group became Blacks Camping and Leisure. A reverse takeover of Greenfield Leisure in 1984 led to the formation of Blacks Camping and Leisure plc, but the acquired stores generated losses and 62 of 66 were eventually sold. The Blacks Leisure Group was formed in 1985. It experienced serious financial pressure in 1986, when the company and its workforce and store estate came close to receivership. A proposed Sears Group offer was not completed, and new investment provided a cash injection. The group later acquired children's clothing company Miss Sam Holdings for £45 million in 1987 and moved its operations to Washington, Tyne and Wear, in 1989. The Blacks Camping name was changed to Blacks Outdoors in 1994. The group's retail platform expanded again in the late 1990s and early 2000s. In November 1999 it acquired the Outdoor Group, bringing Millets and Free Spirit into the business. It sold its 40% interest in Fila UK in 2000, disposed of the 187-store First Sport division to JD Sports in 2002, and bought Famous Army Stores in the same period. Further acquisitions included Just Add Water in 2003 and 27 outlets from The Scout Association in 2004. The company also opened many stores, especially on retail parks, but the expansion proved difficult to sustain. In 2008–09 the group suffered significant losses. Free Spirit and O'Neill stores performed weakly, and the company struggled with the consequences of the O'Neill UK licensing structure after Sandcity entered administration in September 2009. In October 2009 Blacks implemented a company voluntary arrangement supported by a large majority of creditors. It reduced the estate from 256 Millets, 116 Blacks and 32 Free Spirit stores before the restructuring to 208 Millets, 92 Blacks and 13 Free Spirit stores by February 2010. Some expensive refurbishments were undertaken before the CVA, but several refurbished stores were subsequently closed. The company resisted a Sports Direct takeover proposal in 2010 and sold its Mambo boardwear operation. Private-equity investors and other potential buyers examined the business, but the group was put up for sale in December 2011 and indicated that it was likely to enter receivership. Administration followed in 2012. JD Sports Fashion acquired most of the store estate and retained the majority of the workforce. The headquarters moved to Bury, Greater Manchester, where the operation became part of JD Sports' broader portfolio. Under JD Sports, Blacks and Millets returned to profit, with the recovery publicly highlighted in 2017. The brands have continued to sell third-party outdoor clothing, footwear and equipment, although their store footprints and formats have evolved. Some locations have been converted to Go Outdoors, leaving Blacks as a smaller banner within JD Sports' outdoor division rather than the nationwide group it once represented.
- 2017
Outdoor business returns to profit
[1]Blacks and Millets are reported to have returned to profitability under JD Sports ownership.
- 2012
JD Sports acquires the operating business
[1]JD Sports acquires most of the stores and continues Blacks as part of its group.
- 2009
Company voluntary arrangement implemented
[1]The financially troubled group restructures its liabilities and closes numerous loss-making stores.
- 2002
First Sport division sold to JD Sports
[1]Blacks sells its 187-store sports division to JD Sports for a reported £53.2 million.
- 1999
Outdoor Group acquired
[1]The acquisition brings Millets and Free Spirit into the group and materially expands its outdoor-retail platform.
- 1985
Blacks Leisure Group formed
[1]The corporate group adopts the Blacks Leisure Group identity.
- 1970
Reverse takeover of Milletts Stores
[1]Blacks acquires control of the retailer Milletts Stores, creating Blacks Camping and Leisure.
- 1941
Greenock premises destroyed
[1]The company's Greenock works are destroyed during wartime bombing; operations are later rebuilt at Port Glasgow.
- 1931
Good Companions catalogue introduced
[1]Blacks publishes its first Good Companions catalogue and promotes lightweight camping equipment.
- 1928
London showroom opens
[1]The company opens a London showroom, extending its retail and sales presence beyond Scotland.
Products and positioning
A specialist UK outdoor retailer combining technical walking, hiking, camping and mountaineering products with more accessible outdoor clothing, footwear and leisure ranges.
Outdoor retail
Blacks
The core specialist outdoor banner, historically focused on serious walking, hiking, camping and mountaineering equipment. Its range has broadened to include outdoor clothing, footwear, running apparel and more fashion-oriented products alongside technical equipment from multiple brands.
Outdoor retail
Millets
A related UK outdoor retailer acquired through the Outdoor Group transaction in 1999. Millets sells camping, walking, outdoor clothing and leisure products and has often served a broader and more accessible customer base than the technical Blacks format.
Outdoor retail
Ultimate Outdoors
A specialist outdoor retail format owned by Blacks Outdoor Retail. It complements the Blacks and Millets banners with a multi-brand assortment of outdoor clothing, footwear, camping and walking equipment.
Camping equipment · 1931
Good Companions equipment
A historic Blacks catalogue and product identity associated with lightweight camping equipment. The catalogue helped the company market tents and related outdoor products directly to consumers during the interwar period.
Brand decisions
2012
Sale of the operating business to JD SportsM&ABackground
Blacks Leisure Group entered administration after prolonged financial difficulties.
Action taken
JD Sports Fashion acquired the majority of the stores and continued the retail operations under its ownership.
Aftermath
The headquarters moved to Bury and the outdoor business later returned to profitability.
Reported cash consideration. £20 million (2012 acquisition)
2010
Rejection of Sports Direct takeover offerM&ABackground
Sports Direct owned approximately 30% of Blacks' shares and made a reported cash offer while the retailer was recovering from its restructuring.
Action taken
Blacks fought off the reported £26 million takeover offer.
Aftermath
Blacks remained independent for a further period but was ultimately put up for sale and entered administration in 2012.
- Sports Direct — Made a takeover offer for the company.
2009
Restructuring through a company voluntary arrangementStrategyBackground
Heavy losses, weak performance from several specialist formats and an oversized store estate placed the group under severe financial pressure.
Action taken
Blacks negotiated creditor and landlord support for a CVA, closed many loss-making stores and reduced its estate.
Aftermath
The arrangement prevented immediate liquidation but did not resolve the group's longer-term solvency problems; administration followed in 2012.
Pre-tax loss. £14.4 million (2008/09)
Recent events
- 2017
Blacks and Millets return to profitability[1]
Other
JD Sports reported that the outdoor businesses had returned to profit after almost ten years of losses and subsequently recorded a second consecutive profitable year.
- 2012
JD Sports acquires the majority of Blacks' retail business[1]
M&A · Bankruptcy
JD Sports Fashion acquired most of the retailer's stores and continued the business after its administration.
- 2011
Blacks Leisure Group is put up for sale[1]
Bankruptcy · M&A
The group was formally offered for sale amid continuing financial difficulties and later acknowledged that administration was likely.
- 2010
Sports Direct makes a takeover offer for Blacks[1]
M&A
Sports Direct made a reported £26 million offer while holding approximately 30% of Blacks' shares; the offer was not accepted.
- 2009
Blacks enters a company voluntary arrangement after major losses[1]
Bankruptcy
The retailer reached an agreement with creditors and landlords requiring creditor approval, enabling it to avoid liquidation and close a substantial number of loss-making stores.
Sources1 sources
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