Laughton, a former REI Board Director and seasoned retail leader, will join REI as president on February 3, 2025, before assuming full CEO responsibilities on March 31.
Author: SGB Executive

EXEC: Winchester Ammo to Acquire Ammo Inc.’s Small Caliber Manufacturing
Olin Corporation, the parent of Winchester Ammunition, has entered into a definitive agreement with Ammo, Inc. to acquire the company’s small caliber ammunition manufacturing assets for a purchase price of $75 million.

EXEC: VF Corp. Confirms New Global Cuts; Analysts React to ICR Presentation
The parent company of The North Face, Vans, Timberland, Jansport and Dickies, among other outdoor and street lifestyle brands, continues to take action against the goals set out in its Reinvent turnaround plan.

EXEC: Adidas Preliminary 2024 Report Reveals Double-Digit Growth to €23.7B
In euro terms, the company’s revenues grew 24 percent to €5.97 billion in the fourth quarter, or 19 percent in currency-neutral terms versus Q4 2023. Excluding Yeezy for both years, currency-neutral revenues increased 13 percent.

EXEC: Authentic Taps Sports Casuals as Reebok Golf Apparel Partner
With SCI as Reebok’s apparel partner, the brand now has a head-to-toe softgoods offering, with Reebok Design Group, the brand’s global hub for design, development and innovation, handling the creation and distribution of golf footwear.

EXEC: Kizik Expands Distribution into South Korea, France, Iberia, and Gulf States
The company said the expansion follows Kizik’s success in the U.S. and builds on its recent international growth, “positioning the brand for further milestones in 2025 and beyond.”

EXEC: KT Tape Acquired by Consumer Healthcare Investment Platform
Founded in 2008, KT Tape has manufactured drug-free solutions to prevent and relieve pain and promote recovery. Palladin Consumer Retail Partners, previously known as Palladin Capital Group, acquired KT in 2014.

EXEC: New Balance Rides Consumer Energy and Retailer Support to Reach $7.8B in 2024
Company CEO Joe Preston, speaking at the NRF Big Show, said sales at the 118-year-old company are poised to grow another 20 percent in 2025 after increasing 20 percent to $7.8 billion in 2024.

EXEC: 361 Degrees Owned-Retail Growth Accelerates in Q4 as E-Commerce Jumps
361 Degrees International, Ltd. reported brick-and-mortar retail sales of 361º core-branded product increased ~ 10 percent year-over-year for the fourth quarter of 2024. E-commerce product recorded sales growth of ~ 30 percent to 35 percent.

EXEC: JD Sports Fashion Reports 3.4 Percent Organic Sales Growth for Holiday
On a year-to-date (YTD) basis through January 4, comp sales revenue was flat, and the company said it expects full-year comp sales revenue to be at a similar level as the YTD trend.

EXEC: Reebok’s U.S. Operations Sold to Galaxy Universal
Galaxy Universal specializes in the athletic, health and outdoor categories, among others, and owns the And1, Gaiam and Tony Hawk brands, and licenses the Justice and London Fog brands.

Famous Footwear Parent Cuts Sales and EPS Guide for Second Time in Two Months
Consolidated net sales are forecasted to be down 3.0 percent to 3.5 percent for fiscal 2024, compared to a December forecast for net sales to be down in a range of 2.5 percent to 3.0 percent and versus initial guidance of down in low-single-digits percent.

EXEC: Giant Group Ends 2024 on Another Down Note as Q4 Sales Fall 8.6 Percent
The Taiwan-based bike manufacturer saw its 2024 full-year shipment volume fall 7.4 percent for the 12-month period to NT$71.3 billion, compared to NT$76.9 billion in 2023.

EXEC: Key Nike Factory Swings Back to Shipment Declines in December
Feng Tay Enterprises manufacturing revenues rose 2.0 percent for full-year 2024, while peers Stella International declined 3.5 percent for the month and Yue Yuen manufacturing posted an 11.1 percent increase for the 2024 full-year period.
EXEC: Stella Intl Sees 2024 Footwear Shipment Volume Jump 8.2 Percent; ASPs Decline
Average selling prices (ASPs) were $27.90 per pair in Q4, compared to $28.80 in the prior-year Q4 period. Full-year ASPs were down 4.4 percent to $28.40 per pair, compared to $29.7 per pair in 2023.










