For the third quarter, the Sports business was up 3 percent to ¥29.1 billion, after growing 19 percent in Q1 and 3 percent in Q2. Segment business profit was up 20 percent in the third quarter, to ¥2.5 billion.
Category: Sports/Fitness

EXEC: Study Finds Team Sports Participation Trails Pre-Pandemic Level
According to the Aspen Institute’s recently released State of Play 2023 report, kids are trying sports about as much as they did before COVID-19, but they’re not playing as frequently.

Decathlon’s Kipsta Brand Signs Football Supply Deal with UEFA
Kipsta, the Decathlon-owned global football brand, will replace Molten as the official ball supplier of the Uefa Europa League and Conference League in the next three-year cycle.

Amped Fitness Adds Five Locations Across Florida
Amped Fitness announced the opening dates of five new gyms in Florida. The former fitness centers were acquired earlier this year and have since undergone a renovation.

Comfort Ones Shoes Acquires Saxon Shoes
Comfort Ones Shoes, the independent footwear chain based in Alexandria, VA., has acquired Saxon Shoes, based in Richmond, VA.

EXEC: YTD Footwear Shipments Fall Nearly 25 Percent at Yue Yuen
Year-to-date revenue attributable to footwear manufacturing activity, including athletic/outdoor shoes, casual shoes and sports sandals, decreased by 20.4 percent to US$3.50 billion as average selling prices rose in mid single digits.

Beyond Yoga Opens Store in Chicago
Beyond Yoga, acquired by Levi Strauss in 2021, opened a store in Chicago, representing its sixth location and first outside of California.

Michigan Consumer Sentiment Falls to Six-Month Low
Consumer sentiment fell for the fourth month, according to a preliminary report published for the Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index. The Index came in at 60.4, down 3.4 points, or 5.3 percent, from the October final.

Nike Hires Amazon Executive as Chief Technology Officer
Nike, Inc. recruited Muge Erdirik Dogan, a longtime fashion executive at Amazon, as chief technology officer. Jenny Freshwater, most recently Amazon’s vice president of traffic and marketing technology, will replace Dogan as VP of Amazon Fashion & Fitness.

Garmont Names New CEO
Italian outdoor footwear brand Garmont International hired Andrea Nalesso as CEO. Nalesso takes over from Pierangelo Bressan, who remains chairman of the board and a Garmont shareholder.

Foresight Sports Hires Digital Content Consultant
Revelyst, Vista Outdoor’s Products segment, reported entering a consulting agreement with Andrew Stalbow. Initially, he will lead digital content and gaming for its San Diego-based golf brand, Foresight Sports.

Descente Sees Mid-Single-Digit Growth in Fiscal H1
Descente, Ltd. reported that revenues for the fiscal six months ended September 30 rose 4.9 percent to ¥59.9 billion ($396 mm) from ¥57.2 billion a year ago. Gains from the incorporation of Le Coq Sportif (Ningbo) Co. Ltd. (NLCS) into China’s consolidated results and growth in activewear overall offset decreased sales in golfwear.

EXEC: Yonex Fiscal H1 Sales Grow Double-Digits but Profits Fall
Fiscal 2024 first half net sales grew 15.2 percent ¥57.7 billion as demand for sports was said to have remained strong in all regions of the world. An increase in SG&A expenses offsetting a gross profit gain drove profits down more than 20 percent for the six-month period.

EXEC: Asics Lifts Outlook On Robust Third Quarter Results
Asics Corp. raised its outlook for the year after reporting strong earnings improvement in the third quarter and nine months ended September 30. Sales grew 14.5 percent in the third quarter and 23.4 percent in the nine months with healthy gains across regions.

EXEC: Inside the Champion Discussions and Actions at HBI
Like many other CEOs in the active lifestyle retail market these days, Stephen Bratspies is working through heavy retail inventories, shifting consumer trends and the effects of inflation. But Champion offers an even bigger challenge—a fickle consumer’s changing preferences.