SGB Executive Sports & Fitness
EXEC: AlixPartners Sees Frugality Reigning in 2026
AlixPartners’ annual consumer outlook, study, based on a survey of over 13,000 consumers across nine countries, forecasts a sharp, accelerating pullback in global spending intentions in 2026, with the retrenchment highlighted by high-income consumers and China.
EXEC: Roots Delivers 6.8 Percent Growth in Q3
Toronto-based Roots reported sales grew 6.8 percent in the third quarter as same-store sales climbed 6.3 percent and wholesale revenues expanded 15.3 percent. Earnings were about flat in the period as increased marketing and hiring expenses offset the sales growth and higher gross margins.
EXEC: Academy Sports Gains Q3 Boost from Elevated Nike and Jordan Allocations
Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc.’s earnings in the third quarter came in slightly ahead of analyst targets as improved allocations of Nike and Jordan products helped the nationwide retailer reach a greater number of high-income earners, offsetting continued pressure on lower-income customers.
EXEC: Outdoor Brands Chase Run Opportunity at The Running Event
The Running Event (TRE) held in San Antonio, TX, last week, drew an expanding crop of outdoor brands to the Switchback section of the trade show, with many seeking ways to drive growth in the hot run specialty channel. Executives at Salomon, The North Face, Keen, Teva, Lowa, Lems Shoes, La Sportiva and more shared their thoughts on the trade show and business conditions.
EXEC: The Running Event Showcases Running’s Growing Momentum; Comments from the Floor
The Running Event (TRE), which was held for the first time this week in San Antonio, TX, drew a record number of exhibitors, with crowded aisles and robust booth spaces, as the industry appears to have concluded another banner year.
EXEC: Fraser’s Chief Executive Says Ambitions Are High After Posting Solid H1 Results
In the UK, sales growth from Sports Direct and Flannels was said to be more than offset by planned declines in Game UK, Studio Retail, House of Fraser, and the businesses acquired from JD Sports. International revenue benefited from the acquisitions of Holdsport (May 2025) and XXL ASA (June 2025), partially offset by the disposal of the MySale business in May 2025.
EXEC: Nike and Lacoste Ads Banned in UK Over Green Claims
Nike advertisements, along with those from Superdry and Lacoste, have been banned in the U.K. for misleading consumers about the environmental sustainability credentials of the products.
TRE Session: Hoka Sales Fall at Run Specialty as Nike Rebounds and Topo Surges
Karnan Associates’ data, presented at The Running Event (TRE), showed that five of this year’s top-selling footwear brands in the run specialty channel were Brooks, Hoka, New Balance, Asics, and Saucony, respectively, down a collective 7.4 percent in the 12 months through September.
EXEC: SGB Black Friday Wrap Up Notes Overall Sales Boost From Robust Online Gains
Reports from Adobe, Mastercard SpendingPulse, RetailNext, Sensormatic, and Shopify found that Black Friday sales aligned with, or exceeded, expectations, as strength in online sales offset continued softness in in-store traffic on the major U.S. holiday shopping day.
EXEC: Dick’s Chairman Ed Stack Looks to Clean Out the “Garage of Underperforming Assets” at Foot Locker
Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. on Thursday announced it will absorb pretax charges between $500 million and $750 million in future quarters to clear unproductive inventories and close an as-yet-undetermined number of stores at its recently-acquired Foot Locker business. On an analyst call, Ed Stack, Dick’s executive chairman, said, ”Our first priority is clear. We need to clean out the garage of underperforming assets.”
EXEC: Wall Street Eager to Hear Foot Locker Strategy on Dick’s SG’s Q3 Call
Dick’s Sporting Goods will log another growth quarter, outpacing the broader retail market, when it reports third-quarter results next Tuesday, November 25, but analysts will also be listening closely as the company is expected to announce further details on cost synergies, potential store closings and turnaround strategies for the recently acquired Foot Locker banners.
EXEC: Athleta Brand President is Getting a Longer Leash to Return as a Premium Aspirational Brand
Time appears to be something GAP is willing to give to the active lifestyle brand, as company expectations for a quick solution to the woes at Athleta have given way to a longer-term view. Athleta posted an 11 percent year-over-year decrease in both net and comparable sales in the 2025 third quarter.
EXEC: Sports Direct Parent Acquires Glasgow’s Braehead Shopping Centre
Frasers Group plc, the UK-based parent of Sports Direct, announced the acquisition of Braehead Shopping Centre in Glasgow, Scotland’s largest shopping center, which includes an arena and leisure facilities.
EXEC: JD Sports Sees FY Profit at Lower End of Forecasts Amid Macro Pressures
JD Sports Fashion Plc in a update warned its full-year profit would be at the lower end of market expectations due to “recent weak macro and consumer indicators in our key markets.” In the third quarter, same-store sales were down 3.3 percent in the UK, 1.7 percent in North America, and 1.7 percent overall.
EXEC: Running Category Continues Robust Momentum in Third Quarter
Driven by high interest in running-influenced lifestyle offerings and solid demand for performance running models, the running category delivered another banner third quarter, with On, Saucony, Altra, and Nike among those posting healthy double-digit gains.
