Sport Alliance International of Italy has joined Sport 2000 International, the second largest buying group for sporting goods retailers in Europe.
“The collaboration with our new member is another important step for Sport 2000 International to further strengthen and expand our market position in Europe,” explained Harold J. Rubrech, CEO of Sport 2000 International.
The cooperation with Sport Alliance International offers the specialized trade association many new possibilities.
“The Sport Alliance Group provides an important boost to achieving our aims as an overall group,” Rurech said. “The bundling of purchasing capacities and the use of synergy effects are significant benefits of the cooperation. Moreover, the possibilities of communicating unified European-wide marketing campaigns in the specialised trade is also interesting in the cooperation with international top brands.”
The alliance follows the 2013 decision of Intersport Germany and Intersport Austria to merge their operations to bring great scale to their operations in six European countries.
Strong co-branding partner
Sport Alliance International was founded in 2003 by Sportland and Sportler as a purchasing association for specialised sports retailers in Italy. The Sportler AG, is itself part of the purchasing association, which is represented in primarily northern and central Italy with a total of 265 businesses. Sport Alliance International, headquartered in Bozen, achieved sales of around €275 million.
“As a partner of Sport 2000 International we now have an even stronger standing in the market as well as in the cooperation with our brand partners,” said Andrea Morino, Commercial Director of Sport Alliance International. “Above all our focus on the fields of ski/Alpine sports, running, football and training is also excellently matched to the Sport 2000 International strategic orientation with the multi-category specialists in these fields.”
Sport Alliance International member stores will now co-brand by adding “Official Partner of Sport 2000” to their logos and marketing materials.
Sport 2000 International is Europe’s second largest purchasing cooperation of independent sports retailers with 3,854 shops in 23 countries and a total revenue of over 6.355 billion euros in the year 2014. The sports retail company has over 35,000 employees.
