Adidas announced plans to close Reebok's UK headquarter in the city of Bolton, affecting 160 jobs. According to published reports in the UK, the move would end a 116-year association for the brand with the town.



A spokesman for parent group, adidas, told The Bolton News: “It is a proposal at this stage, but it is our intention to relocate the offices based at the Reebok Stadium to adidas offices in Stockport, with some workers being offered a transfer to the global group HQ in Canton, near Boston, Massachusetts.”


The spokesman added that Reebok wants to relocate sales and marketing staff responsible for the UK and Ireland to offices in Stockport, and the product development team to the USA. The company spokesman said: “The idea is to get the staff working together at the same locations but keep the separate brands.


“One of the reasons is that we need to make sure that, over the long term, the Reebok name is taken forward in a very strong way. The plan is currently in the consultation process and we will be holding one-to-one interviews with all staff. This has not been an easy decision, but we are handling it in the best way we can.”


President and chief executive of Reebok International Ulrich Becker said in a statement: “We hope to assist as many employees as possible in obtaining new positions within the Adidas Group. These actions will help to not only make Reebok a more flexible, efficient organisation but also ensure there is a strong foundation upon which it can grow and once again succeed. We would like to publicly thank our employees for their continued dedication and support during this challenging period.”


 

Reebok was founded in 1895, in Bolton, by Joseph William Foster under a company called JW Foster and Sons Limited.