Reports say the French outdoor, sports and cycle retailer may move to acquire outlets from the troubled retailer
Following JJB Sports' collapse into administration, the race to acquire shops from the retailer has begun, with firms like Decathlon reportedly in the frame (according to Retail Week).
JJB's slip into administration has led to over 2,000 redundancies and the closure of 133 stores.
Decathlon already took on a former JJB store – before it went into administration – in Southampton, though few of JJB's portfolio meet Decathlon's size requirement of 20,000 sq ft.
Perhaps the speculation is no surprise since Decathlon revealed it aimed to open 100 stores in the UK over the next decade. This month Decathlon opened a store in Coventry and despite the tough retail climate posted a rise in sales and turnover for the last financial year.
There's more at Retail Week.
Register for the BikeBiz News Digest at the registration page.
Follow BikeBiz on Twitter at @BikeBizOnline or 'Like' the BikeBiz Facebook page here.
Advertisement
Add a new comment
You need to be logged in to post comments. If you do not have an account then please register.
Comments
3 comments
I thought I read (?) that Mike Ashley had already committed to a bunch of stores, but it could've just been press speak? Easy option for Decathlon to get space, but I'm really not sure they get the UK. Ashley's formula (euchh) is working and is very different from their's?
billy hunt Oct 11th 2012 at 5:53PM
0 0Ashley is only getting a few stores, from what I've heard in the press, leaving the vast majority unaccounted for. I'm speaking to Decathlon next week, so BikeBiz will have more on this soon. Funnily enough I've seen quite a few B'Twin bikes about lately.
Jonathon Harker Oct 12th 2012 at 12:38PM
0 0Reads like Sports Direct cherry picked 20 JJB stores - reduced from an initial bid for 60 - acquiring the warehouse and website too for £23.4 million. Apparently the break up of the stores has already put other bidders off and you can't really see how the JJB legacy adds great value to a Decathlon acquisition of the remaining outlets.
billy hunt Oct 14th 2012 at 12:47PM
0 0