GT to cease with Halfords

Effective January 1, 2011, distribution of the GT Bicycles brand through Halfords will be discontinued. GT Bicycle is owned by Cycling Sports Group (CSG), a business unit of the Recreational/Leisure Segment of Dorel Industries Inc.

CSG UK, established last year, will take over all distribution, sales and marketing responsibilities for the GT Bicycles brand within the UK market.

CSG UK is the distributor for Cannondale, Charge, Mongoose, Summer, and Wethepeople bike brands.

Russell Merry, Managing Director of CSG UK said:

"GT has always been a strong brand in the UK and CSG is putting substantial engineering resources behind it with the objective of raising the bar of quality, design and engineering. We foresee a very bright future for GT in the UK.”

Halfords had been a GT retailer since their appointment by former GT distributor Caratti Sport in 1997. Globally, Cycling Sports Group is focused on the independent bicycle dealer channel.

Mark Peterman, US-based General Manager for GT said:

“Choosing suitable GT distribution is done on a country-by-country basis. Paramount to every search is strong partnership relative to the fostering of the brand image, growth opportunities and a thirst for driving GT to the top of the market.

"We felt that, for the UK, a full corporate commitment to the tremendously strong IBD channel is our best solution. We thank Halfords for all their support over the past decade and acknowledge the effort achieved.”