Intersport International reports 3.2% revenue growth in 2019

By

Marion Deslandes

Translated by
Nicola Mira

Published
Jan 23, 2020

After a relatively stable 2018, with sales up 0.7%, sports apparel and equipment retailer Intersport International made progress again in the 2019 financial year, with sales up 3.2%, reaching €12.3 billion. Intersport, whose international headquarters are located in Switzerland, closed the year on a high, with revenue up 3.9% in Q4, despite, according to the group, “a very mild autumn and winter in many parts of the world.” Intersport International gave no further indication of its financial results, notably net income.

“This positive trend is the result of the deployment of the group’s Intersport 2.0 strategy, focusing on improved product category and data management, on an enhanced store concept and on solid partnerships with brands of strategic importance,” stated the group. Intersport International currently operates 5,421 stores in 43 markets worldwide. The number of stores is slightly down from the previous year, when the total was 5,562.

In France, Intersport is on the rise, having become in the course of 2019 the country’s largest apparel and footwear retailer, according to market research firm Kantar. The value of Intersport’s sales on the French market in 2019 has not been disclosed, but in 2018 the trend was positive, with comp sales up 5.9%.

As usual, the group reported separately the results of its thriving sneaker chain, The Athlete's Foot. In 2019, the chain generated revenue of €400 million, equivalent to an 11% increase. It currently operates 561 stores in 30 countries.

Intersport International appointed a new CEO, Steve Evers, at the start of 2019. Evers was optimistic about the group’s future expansion, and said that “our growing revenue and new-found impetus are also reflected in the new partnerships we have formed. Intersport recently finalised deals with Suning in China and Momentum Sports in Taiwan.”