SGB Executive Sports & Fitness

EXEC: Sports Direct’s Solid Full Year Performance Offset by Other Parent Company Factors
U.K.-based Frasers Group, the parent of Sports Direct, Everlast, and Evans Cycles, among many others, reported a 7.4 percent decline in sales for its fiscal year ended April 27, as continued sales growth from Sports Direct was offset by moves to right-size other sports banners and weakness in its luxury segment.

KeyBanc Q2 Footwear Survey Finds Nike, Adidas and Hoka Trending Up
The survey of 1,001 U.S. adults conducted between June 25 and July 7, explored respondents footwear ownership, preferences, spending, and outlook. Among demographics, the Top 2 favorite brands for men and women, in order, were Nike and Adidas.

EXEC: Fila Brand Delivers MSD China Retail Growth in Q2 for Anta Sports
Retail sales, in retail value, for the Fila brand in China increased in mid-single digits year-over-year in the second quarter, a moderation from the high-single-digit trend in the first quarter.

EXEC: Li Ning Posts LSD Growth in China Retail Sales in Second Quarter
The Offline channel, which includes retail and wholesale, registered a low-single-digit increase. Retail (direct operation) declined by mid-single digits, while Wholesale (franchised distributors) increased by low-single digits. The E-commerce channel registered mid-single-digit growth.

EXEC: JD Sports Fashion Reports Exit of Non-Executive Board Director
Helen Ashton, a non-executive director of the company’s Board of Directors and chair of the Board’s Audit and Risk Committee, has reportedly notified the company of her intention to step down to focus on other commitments.

EXEC: Ciele Athletics Partners with Topsports for China Retail Launch
Ciele will soon open its “official online flagship stores” in China and activate offline channels to reach the country’s fast-growing running community.”

EXEC: Beyond Yoga Revenues Climb 12 Percent in Q2 on DTC Momentum
The company’s sales rose 11.9 percent to $36.8 million in Levi Strauss & Co.’s fiscal Q2, ended June 1, boosted by a 30.1 percent growth in the DTC channel, thanks to new store openings.

EXEC: Le Coq Sportif Sold in Bankruptcy Proceedings
A group led by Franco-Swiss entrepreneur Dan Mamane, have committed to investing an initial €70 million (US$82.1 million) into the company to revive its growth. Alexandre Fauvet, a former executive vice president at Lacoste and previously the chief executive of skiwear brand Fusalp, will serve as Le Coq Sportif’s new CEO.

EXEC: Former Brooks CEO Jim Weber Highlights Key Leadership Traits
At a keynote session held during Switchback Spring, which took place from June 16-18 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, Jim Weber, former CEO of Brooks Running, listed focus, curiosity and trust as his “winning” trifecta formula for leadership success.

Onitsuka Tiger Opens Flagship in Paris
Set within the historic Travellers Paris building at 25 Avenue des Champs-Élysées, the store spans two levels and features Tiger Yellow accents, raw concrete, and vibrant yellow glass. The ground floor houses Café Onitsuka Tiger a takeaway destination serving food and beverages.

EXEC: Trump Announces New Trade Deal with Vietnam
The revised deal includes the elimination of Vietnam tariffs on U.S. goods and a higher tariff on Vietnam shipments to the U.S, although it amounts to less than half of the 46 percent tariff imposed by the Trump Administration in early April.

EXEC: Citi Survey Finds Adidas’ Brand Perception Catching Up to Nike
Citi Research’s latest quarterly Global Sporting Goods Survey found that Nike out-ranked Adidas in terms of intent to purchase and is the athletic brand consumers perceive as the most innovative in North America. However, Adidas tied Nike for the highest Net Promoter Score (NPS) among athletic brands in June, highlighting the popularity of Adidas’ Terrace franchises

EXEC: Nike Inc. CEO Expects $1 Billion Hit from Tariffs; Sees Turnaround Progressing as Planned
Nike, Inc. continues to face headwinds in its turnaround efforts, including an estimated $1 billion hit from tariffs. However, the company’s first-quarter guidance came in better than expected. Nike officials told analysts that its steps to reengage wholesale partners are paying off, with holiday bookings up. Shares of Nike in mid-day trading Friday, June 27, were up about 17 percent.

EXEC: TaylorMade Investor Seeks Preferential Treatment in Potential Sale of Brand
The move comes as Centroid, the South Korean private equity firm that acquired TaylorMade in 2021, in mid-May confirmed plans to divest its controlling stake in TaylorMade, opting for an outright sale over an initial public offering.

EXEC: Hibbett Parent JD Sports to Open More JD Stores in Spain
The UK-based owner of the JD, DTLR, Shoe Palace, Finish Line, and Hibbett retail brands in the U.S. has 130 stores in Spain operating under the Sprinter banner.