Retail and Consumer

Graphite has an exceptionally strong track record of acquiring and rolling out successful retail concepts.

We took Game and Ottakar's from an early stage to flotation on the London Stock Exchange. We rolled out Paperchase from 12 to 61 stores before selling it to a trade buyer. Our initial investments in Maplin and Wagamama were both multiplied by 10 on their respective disposals. We sold Jane Norman to financial buyers, following its rapid expansion under our ownership. In 2006 we backed sk:n, a chain of laser clinics, to pursue a nationwide roll-out, and in 2008 we acquired Kurt Geiger, a distributor of premium and luxury footwear, for UK and international expansion.

Graphite has backed a variety of other consumer businesses such as mail order companies and restaurants. We have invested in companies which operate in different stages of the supply chain, from design and sourcing to manufacturing and wholesaling.