Outdoor clothing chain Kathmandu Holdings says sales jumped 16 per cent in the first quarter of its fiscal 2012, in line with expectations.

The New Zealand-based company said sales grew to $NZ56 million ($A42.70 million) in the 15 weeks to November 13, compared with the corresponding period last year.

Same store sales grew 7.6 per cent during the period. That compares with 2.1 per cent growth in the first 16 weeks of the 2010/11 financial year, Kathmandu said in a trading update on Friday.

Chief executive Peter Halkett said that despite the difficult retail trading conditions, sales performance in the first 15 weeks of the 2012 financial year was “in line with our expectations”.

“Sales momentum has been steady and we have maintained gross margins,” Mr Halkett said in a statement.

Kathmandu shares were down three cents at $1.92 on Friday.

First half profit will be highly dependent on the Christmas and January trading period.

Mr Halkett said Kathmandu still aimed to open 15 new stores in fiscal 2012, with a further two new Australian stores scheduled to open early next year.

Since August, Kathmandu has opened new stores in Wellington, Christchurch and relocated a store in Melbourne.

Before Christmas, Kathmandu intends to open a new store in Warrnambool, Victoria and relocate stores in Chatswood in Sydney and in Willis Street, Wellington, New Zealand.