Running, training and bikes console Intersport
Sporting goods retail group Intersport has reported sales revenues of €10.6 billion in 2020, which represents a fall of around 9% compared to the previous year. It said 2020 had been “an extremely challenging year for the sporting goods industry”. However, it added that the sector was affected to a lesser extent by the crisis than many other parts of the economy.
By the end of last year, the group had 5,186 sales outlets in 44 countries. Its Athlete’s Foot footwear division had 570 stores in 33 markets.
It said its results had been hit first by “the warmest winter ever”. Then it was affected by the covid-19 pandemic, which, it said, spread faster than it had anticipated and led to restrictions and lockdowns all over the world.
However, its online sales development “accelerated strongly”, tripling revenues in many
countries, with the highest growth rates coming in markets with a strong, existing omnichannel presence.
Intersport said it had seen differences between different sporting goods categories and variations in consumer demand. The demand for running, training, and bicycle categories “exceeded all expectations in 2020” and will continue to develop stronger than other categories, it said. It also took encouragement from high numbers of newcomers to sport and the high percentage who say they plan to increase their activity levels following the lockdowns.
Chief executive, Steve Evers, said: “We will continue to fight the crisis with a consequent implementation of the group’s strategy, and we will keep on inspiring and serving local sports enthusiasts, helping them find their place in sports.”
