It appears that Frasers Group plc (Frasers), the UK-based parent of the Sports Direct global sporting goods retailer, is making another run at Norway-based sporting goods retailer XXL ASA.
Category: Sports/Fitness

EXEC: Saucony and Merrell Grow 57 Percent in China in 2024; Saucony Hits Benchmark
In 2024, revenue from the combined Merrell and Saucony brands segment realized a year-over-year growth of 57.2 percent, accounting for 9.2 percent of the Group’s total revenue.

Report: February Retail Sales May Reflect Anxious Consumer Spending
February’s core retail sales, as defined by the NRF, were up 0.9 percent seasonally-adjusted month-over-month but down 0.2 percent unadjusted year-over-year because of the comparison against unusually high sales in February 2024.

S&S Activewear Taps Industry Vet Kendall Whitley as VP of Team Sales
Whitley brings nearly four decades of sporting goods experience, including executive roles at Converse, Adidas, and, most recently, as VP of Athletics for NBS, where he oversaw all business for 125 dealers in the NBS Athletic Division.

The Pickler Franchisees to Open Third Club in Indiana
The location is the third in Indiana for Dave Gilreath and Ron Brock, managing partners of Pickle Indy, LLC, with plans to open six new Picklr member clubs throughout central Indiana.

Puma Inks Premier League Official Ball Deal; Second Big UK Soccer Loss for Nike
This deal will see Puma become the Official Ball Supplier of the Premier League, which includes the provision of match balls at all League matches from the start of the 2025/26 season.

Fanatics and the MLB Open Largest MLB Ballpark Store in Tokyo
The MLB Official Store at the Tokyo Dome, spanning 31,000 square feet, will employ 700 staff members. It is one of several MLB retail stores in the city, including official stores at Miyashita Park and the Tokyo Skytree.

Tailored Brands, Inc. Appoints Two New Board Members
The omnichannel specialty retailer of menswear, appointed Julie B. Rosen and Lewis L. Bird, III, as members of its Board of Directors, effective March 2025. Rosen and Bird collectively bring nearly seven decades of retail and business experience to their roles.

Xponential Fitness Restates 2023 Financials as New CEO Digs Deeper into Business
The owner of the Club Pilates, CycleBar, StretchLab, YogaSix, Pure Barre, Rumble, BFT, and Lindora fitness and wellness brands saw total revenue in Q4 decline 7 percent even as North America system-wide sales increased 21 percent.

Fossil Group Appoints New Chief Financial Officer
Randy Greben will oversee Fossil Group’s global financial strategy, focusing on leading the organization’s financial turnaround and business transformation. He replaces interim CFO Andrew Skobe, effective March 17.

EXEC: New Kohl’s CEO Kicks Off Turnaround Effort; Sees Private Label as Key
Asked about the balance between private label and national brands by an analyst, new CEO Ashley Buchanan emphasized that the customer will ultimately determine the mix, with a focus on delivering quality and value.

BSN Sports Parent Varsity Brands Taps into Pro Athlete Investors at Patricof Co
Over 45 of Patricof Co’s global athlete clientele, representing all major U.S. sports, have invested in Varsity Brands. This investment underscores P/Co’s commitment to “partnering with companies transforming the landscape of sports and community engagement.”

Life Time to Open Athletic Country Club to The Brooklyn Tower
The Life Time Brooklyn Tower athletic country club will cover seven floors throughout the 1,066-foot-tall building. It will be Life Time’s largest location in Brooklyn at approximately 80,000 square feet.

Crunch Fitness Franchise Opens Gym in Frederick, Maryland
Chad Smith, owner of Fitness Growth Capital, has found the opportunity to help develop the Crunch brand through his passion for the industry. The company operates 59 gyms nationwide, including nine Crunch locations.

EXEC: Puma SE Forecast Q1 Sales to Decline on Weak U.S. and China
For the first quarter, Puma said it anticipates currency-adjusted sales growth to be down in low-single-digits versus the 2024 Q1 level, primarily due to a soft performance in the U.S. and China.