BSN Sports, a division of Varsity Brands, announced that it has acquired Jim Ludtka Sporting Goods based in Depew, NY, a suburb of Buffalo.
A second-generation family-owned business, Ludtka’s has served national and regional custom uniform and team equipment needs since its founding by Jim and Norma Jean Ludtka in 1971. Ludtka, a former New York Yankee shortstop, Baltimore Orioles scout and co-founder of the Cheektowaga semi-pro baseball league, tailored the business to support local baseball leagues and teams before transitioning the business to his daughter and current owner, Debbie Lancellotti.
The acquisition of Jim Ludtka Sporting Goods is the latest in BSN Sports’ team sports model, as it continues to expand its geographic footprint and professional sales team across the U.S.
Terry Babilla, BSN Sports’ president, said, “Given the rich history of the Ludtka name and business in the greater Buffalo area, we are excited to continue the tradition of offering tailored customer service and custom products to their coaches, athletes and customers. We look forward to this opportunity to expand upon the Ludtkas strong foundation by supporting their local and national customer base with access to top brand inventory, our line of team and school campus branding products and exclusive digital resources to truly bring forth a one-stop shopping experience for coaches, athletic programs and communities.”
Debbie Lancellotti added, “Jim Ludtka Sporting Goods has proudly serviced Buffalo, the surrounding Western New York area, and, more recently, national markets since 1971. It has always been our top priority to provide quality merchandise and excellent customer service. BSN Sports is a prominent leader in our industry and will continue to support our schools, teams, leagues, and organizations with excellent service and extensive brand options.”
