EXEC: UBS Survey Offers Upbeat Take on Global Active Lifestyle Sector; Adidas and Nike Battle for Top Spot
EXEC: JD Sports Looks to Elevate Curation at U.S. Athletic Specialty
EXEC: Dick’s SG’s Ed Stack Eyes Big Opportunity in “Fixer Upper” Foot Locker
EXEC: SGB 2026 Look Ahead — Sports & Fitness Market Leaders
EXEC: Market Shrugs Off Adidas Downgrade; Analyst Sees Weaker Europe SG Space
SGB Update
FDRA Sees Shoe Prices Post Uptick in December, But Flat for 2025
Retail prices of footwear climbed 1.1 percent in December, but overall footwear inflation in 2025 was modest for the third straight year, according to the latest data from the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA). With average landing costs for footwear imports continuing to rise, however, inflationary threats are seen building this year.
Fitness Holdings NA to Open Second Crunch Location in Connecticut
Complimenting the already announced Crunch Fitness coming to Torrington, CN, Fitness Holdings North America has confirmed a second Connecticut location in Southington, with both clubs targeted to open in Summer 2026.
Jetset Pilates Franchise to Open Three Studios in Scottsdale
The three-unit development deal is led by franchisees Bill and Jen Hoge and marks the first phase of the brand’s broader expansion strategy for the Phoenix–Scottsdale metro area.
Pentland Brands to Move USA HQ — and Speedo — Closer to Long Beach Ahead of LA28
The new 25,000 square-foot facility at Aero Long Beach is expected to accommodate more than 130 employees and serve as the central hub for Pentland’s operations. The headquarters will support Speedo alongside other Pentland portfolio brands, including Berghaus and Endura.
361 Degrees Owned-Retail Posts Double-Digit Q4 Growth
China-based 361 Degrees International, Ltd. reported that brick-and-mortar retail sales of 361º core-branded product increased approximately 10 percent year-over-year in the fourth quarter of 2025, which ended on December 31.
SGB Executive
Is Varsity Brands Set Up for a Big Deal?
Varsity Brands, Inc., the parent of BSN Sports and Varsity Spirit, announced a proposed $400 million fungible add-on to its first-lien term loan facility to partly finance a potential undisclosed acquisition of a complementary business to BSN Sports with a heavy presence in soccer. The potential deal was noted in Moody’s and S&P’s debt issuance reports.
EXEC: UBS Survey Offers Upbeat Take on Global Active Lifestyle Sector; Adidas and Nike Battle for Top Spot
In the athletic footwear category, Nike was the top brand global consumers planned to purchase within the next 12 months, at 49 percent; followed by Adidas, 41 percent; New Balance, 17 percent; Puma, 14 percent; Air Jordan, 13 percent; Asics, 12 percent; Anta and Skechers, both 10 percent; Li-Ning, 9 percent, and Converse, 8 percent.
EXEC: JD Sports Looks to Elevate Curation at U.S. Athletic Specialty
JD Sports’ North America business generates about $6 billion in annual sales following the add-on acquisitions of Shoe Palace, DTLR and Hibbett. Régis Schultz said that with the follow-up acquisitions, JD has “nice coverage” nationwide, and he said the North American operation has become a “very profitable business.”
EXEC: On Delivers Robust Holiday Selling on Premium Proposition
Speaking at the ICR Conference 2026, Martin Hoffmann, CEO and CFO at On Holding AG, said the Swiss footwear brand delivered a strong holiday performance, attributing it to efforts to establish a premium positioning and avoid discounting.
EXEC: Dick’s SG’s Ed Stack Eyes Big Opportunity in “Fixer Upper” Foot Locker
On Sunday, January 11, during a session at the National Retail Federation (NRF) 2026 venue, Ed Stack, executive chairman of Dick’s Sporting Goods, took a deep dive into the company’s leadership strategies which have paved the way for its success while also indicating that he remained bullish on Dick’s recently-acquired Foot Locker business which he described as a “fixer upper.”
