REI names Kühl as its vendor of the year

28/01/2014
Outdoor retail group REI has named outdoor apparel brand Kühl as its overall 2013 vendor partner of the year. It made the announcement during the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market trade show in Salt Lake City in late January.

“Kühl has completely redefined success and partnership in the sportswear business,” said Susan Viscon, REI’s vice-president of merchandising on announcing the award. She said the Utah-based brand had an “innate ability” to differentiate itself in “a very crowded space” and praised it for basing its sourcing and distribution decisions on sound principles.

Three divisional awards (for camping and travel, action sports and outdoorwear) were won by Osprey Packs, Rossignol and Darn Tough Vermont, respectively.