Icebreaker,the outdoor merino wool apparel company based in New Zealand, opened the first independent Icebreaker store. The location was opened in Europe in collaboration with Travel Store SARL as retail partner. It opened Saturday, 16th of January 2010, at 21st Avenue Michel Croz, Chamonix, Mont-Blanc, France.

After three years in the French market and 100 retail doors, the store will allow the brand to grow its brand exposure and consumer awareness in Europe and in France,” said Mélina Holzer, General Manager of Icebreaker France.

Holzer said Icebreaker chose Chamonix for the important première because of its global importance as capital of mountaineering, which attracts passionate “outdoor” people. The store is located in the heart of Chamonix centre and offers a large choice of product on 70m2 retail space in a premium environment. “

Already very known in the Southern hemisphere and in some European countries like UK, Switzerland, and the Benelux region, Icebreaker said it is experiencing strong growth in the US and the other European countries, specifically in France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Eastern Europe. Icebreaker is now sold in more than 2,800 stores in 24 countries.