SGB Executive Footwear
EXEC: Largest Asia FW Factory Warns on Q1 Profit Decline as Margins Shrink
The expected decrease in profit for the quarter was reported to be mainly attributable to the negative impact on gross margin due to “an increase in unit costs for footwear manufacturing, amid a volatile operating environment led by a complex and dynamic global economic landscape.”
EXEC: Saucony Brand Exceeds 40 Percent Q1 Retail Growth in China
MS (China) Sports Company Limited, a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Xtep International Holdings Limited, operates under licensing and royalty agreements for the Merrell and Saucony brands and subsidiaries in China.
EXEC: Chinese Factory Group Blames Lower Q1 Sales on Sport Footwear ASPs
The Group’s non-Sports manufacturing facilities continue to operate at close to full utilization. Stella said it will drive quality growth through the ramp-up of new production factories in Bangladesh and Indonesia.
EXEC: Sports Direct Inks Retail Agreement to Expand in Australia and New Zealand
Accent Group plans to build a large Sports Direct business in Australia with an initial rollout of at least 50 Sports Direct stores plus online targeted over the first six years.
EXEC: Intersport International Will See Prodigal Son Tom Foley Return as CEO in July 2025
Tom Foley most recently served as CEO at Go Sport where led a chain of stores and a network of international franchises. Foley’s background also includes a stint as general manager for Intersport UK and Ireland, a role he served in for six years until 2017.
EXEC: Fila and Anta Brands Carry a HSD China Retail Growth Trend into First Quarter
Retail sales for the Fila brand in the 2025 first quarter in the China market again increased in the high-single digits year-over-year, consistent with the growth trend in the 2024 fourth quarter.
EXEC: Yue Yuen’s Pou Sheng China Retail Unit Declines Again in March
Yue Yuen’s Pou Sheng China retail business and the YY Sports retail brand posted another down month in March 2025 but the decline did moderate month-over-month from a deep decline in February.
EXEC: Asia FW Factory Growth Moderates in March; Feng Tay Dips
Yue Yuen’s manufacturing business, which boasts Adidas, Merrell, Asics, and many footwear brands as key customers, posted a 3.5 percent increase in March. Feng Tay, a major Nike supplier, returned to negative territory, dipping 1.7 percent year-over-year.
EXEC: Trump Admin Hits “Pause” on Most Higher Tariffs; Bumps China to 125 Percent
U.S. President Donald Trump either reminded the markets that he authored “The Art of the Deal” or awoke Wednesday to the reality that the U.S. bond and stock markets were going to drag down his legacy. Either way, there is broad relief coming.
EXEC: JD Sports Revises Medium Term Plan as Sport Fashion Market Growth Slows
The parent company of the JD, Hibbett, Finish Line, DTLR and Shoe Palace retail brands in the U.S. now expects the sport fashion sector to grow at a slower rate over the medium term and is adapting its plans to capitalize on growth opportunities and the investments already made in infrastructure over the last two years.
EXEC: JD Sports Posts “Broadly Flat” FY 2025 Sales; Sees Comp Sales Lower in FY 2026
The parent of the JD, Hibbett, Finish Line, DTLR and Shoe Palace retail brands in the U.S. reported 5.8 percent organic revenue growth for the 2025 fiscal year ended February 1. Total revenue in fiscal 2026 is expected to grow due to the impact of the acquisitions the company made during fiscal 2025.
EXEC: Trump Threatens to Push China Tariffs to 104 Percent Total
At issue was what Trump said was an effort to strike a trade deal with China that would be fair to both sides. China’s latest move on Friday to assess a 34 percent retaliatory tariff apparently lit the fuse as Trump threatened to add another 50 percent to the total tariff.
EXEC: Rip Curl and Oboz Owner First Vendor to Re-Direct Inventory Destined for U.S.
KMD Brands said that until its has more clarity on changes to consumer demand in the U.S., the Group will redirect some U.S. inventory to other key global markets, or hold inventory with existing international 3PL partners.
EXEC: Puma SE Names New CEO and Chair of Management Board; Freundt to Exit
Puma SE’s Supervisory Board has appointed Arthur Hoeld as chairman of the Management Board and CEO of Puma SE, effective July 1, 2025. Due to differing views on strategy execution, Arne Freundt, CEO of Puma SE, and the Supervisory Board have mutually agreed that he will step down as CEO on April 11, 2025.
EXEC: Decathlon’s 2024 Profit Falls as Sales Rise; New CEO Appointed
Javier López has been appointed as chief executive officer, replacing Barbara Martin Coppola who has served in the CEO role since March 2022.
