Running Supply, Inc., operating as Runnings, based in Marshall, MN, agreed to acquire Achille Enterprises, Inc. Operating under Achille Agway, Achille Enterprises owns six farm and home stores in New Hampshire and Vermont.
Author: SGB Media
Nike’s Chief Digital Information Officer Departs
Ratnakar Lavu, Nike’s global chief digital information officer, resigned on February 20, according to Business Insider.

Laurie McCartney, President, NASM And AFAA, Dies Unexpectedly
Laurie McCartney, president of the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA), died unexpectedly on February 6. No cause of death was shared.
IHRSA Adds Two Board Members
IHRSA appointed Ori Gorfine, president of U.S. Fitness Holdings and Richard Beddie, CEO of ExerciseNZ and the chief of staff to the International Confederation of Registers for Exercise Professionals, to its Board of Directors.
Adidas’ Debt Ratings Downgraded On Slashed Outlook
Moody’s downgraded the debt ratings of Adidas following the company’s steep profit warning for 2023, “signaling a significant and unexpected further downward revision of the company’s financials and credit metrics for the next 12-18 months.”
VF Corp’s Debt Ratings Lowered
Moody’s Investors Service downgraded the debt ratings of VF Corp. due to the company’s currently high leverage resulting from underperformance in its largest and most profitable brand, Vans, as well as large customer inventory destocking at Dickies, a slower-than-expected recovery in China, and elevated inventory levels that are leading to higher promotional sales activity and reduced margins.
Pactimo Names Director Of Custom Sales
Denver, CO-based cycling apparel brand Pactimo hired Robert Allen as director of custom sales.
Quell Raises $10M In Series A Funding Round
Quell, the UK-based fitness gaming developer and publisher, completed a $10 million Series A funding round led by Tencent with follow-on investment from Khosla Ventures, Heartcore Capital, Social Impact Capital, and entrepreneur Naval Ravikant.
Life Time To Hold Pickleball Tournaments
Life Time, the operator of over 160 fitness clubs, is bringing nine pickleball tournaments to its locations resulting from alliances with the Professional Pickleball Association and Major League Pickleball.
USA Triathlon Foundation Hires New Chair, Officers
The USA Triathlon Foundation hired Alex Egan as Chair of its Board of Trustees following the Board’s 2022 officer elections. The organization also named three officers.
Shimano Forecasts Sharp Drop In 2023 Sales; Pursues A New Culture
After reviewing in more detail the financial statements filed by Shimano, Inc. following the company’s 2022 earnings report this past week, there is an ominous set of figures and remarks in the company’s outlook for its business in 2023 missed in earlier reporting of the company’s strong 2022 results.
Blain’s Named One Of America’s Best Employers For Fifth Year
Forbes magazine named Blain’s Farm & Fleet one of “America’s Best Midsize Employers” for the fifth year in a row. In 2023, Blain’s Farm & Fleet ranked as the #1 Wisconsin-based retail and wholesale company.
Penn Entertainment Completes Acquisition Of Barstool Sports
Penn Entertainment, Inc. completed its previously announced acquisition of Barstool Sports, Inc. after securing a three percent stake in Barstool Sports in February 2020. Penn realized the remaining interest in Barstool Sports for approximately $388 million.
Fila Holdings Raises Dividend Payout Ratio For Fifth Consecutive Year
Fila Holdings has raised its total annual dividend payout ratio for a fifth consecutive year, as the company approved during a recent board meeting an annual dividend payment of 45.07 billion Korean won, or 750 won per share.
Great Britain January Retail Sales Analysis Reveals Decline After Inflation
The Office of National Statistics in Great Britain reported that retail sales volumes in January 2023 increased by 0.5 percent, following a fall of 1.2 percent in December 2022 (revised from a fall of 1.0 percent). Sales volumes were reportedly 1.4 percent below its pre-COVID-19 February 2020 levels.