INTERSPORT expands to China – partnership with New Huadu

March 12, 2012

IIC - INTERSPORT International Corp. signed a Master Franchise Agreement with Fujian New Huadu Supercenter Co. Ltd. In the near future, 80 to 100 multi-sport/multi-brand stores with a retail surface of 1’000 – 1’500 square meters are scheduled to open in South China.

 

IIC-INTERSPORT International Corporation (IIC) is pleased to announce that it signed a Master Franchise Agreement for the territory of South China (comprising of the ten provinces Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangxi, Hainan, Hubei, Anhui, Zhejiang and Guizhou with a total of 513 million inhabitants). This agreement exclusively allows Fujian New Huadu Supercenter Co. Ltd. to open INTERSPORT stores under their own direction as well as with sub-franchise partners, sell INTERSPORT’s private label products and have access to all other IIC products and services.
 
From mid 2013, New Huadu will start to open the first INTERSPORT stores in the ten South Chinese provinces. New Huadu intends to open 80 to 100 INTERSPORT stores with a retail surface of 1’000 – 1’500 square meters in the course of the next five years. Based on INTERSPORT’s 40 years of experience in sports retail, combined with the willingness to adapt to cultural and local influences, the consumer will be offered a market-specific, multi-sports, full-product-range in a modern environment, strong brands and professional advice.
 
The core business areas of New Huadu Group, which was founded in 1987, are: Retailing, Real Estate and the Mining and Tourism Industries. Fujian New Huadu Supercenter Co. Ltd. is the group’s retail branch, founded in 1999. This company is specialized in operating department stores, supermarkets, hypermarkets and consumer electronics stores under the well known Chinese banner New Huadu. The company operates today more than 110 retail outlets, with a retail space of 780’000 square meters, has over 12,000 employees and is aiming for 250 stores by 2015. The turnover of Fujian New Huadu Supercenter Co. Ltd. was exceeding 1.1 billion US Dollars in 2011. This company is quoted on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange since July 2008 and has been listed multiple times by China’s Ministry of Commerce among the top 100 Commercial Chain Enterprises.
 
With the extension of its business to China, INTERSPORT successfully continues its expansion strategy launched in 1999. The INTERSPORT Group originated and continues, for the past 30 years, to operate in Western Europe and Canada and is now represented by 340 shops in 16 Eastern European countries as well as in the Middle East in four countries with 15 shops. In 2010, the Group expanded to Asia (South Korea) where it currently has 10 shops. The goal is to open 500 shops in Asia by 2022 with potential annual retail sales of one billion US Dollars.
 
Zhou Wengui, President of New Huadu Supercenter Co., Ltd states:
 
New Huadu will pioneer the sports retail market in China which is dominated by mono-brand stores, with INTERSPORT, the foremost sports retail banner with abundant experience, a successful multi-brand concept and promising services. Together with our commercial experience, customer focus and proximity and well-established networking in the market, I expect a sustainable partnership between New Huadu and INTERSPORT to help both companies in creating further growth and profitability.
 
 
 
Franz Julen, CEO of IIC-INTERSPORT International Corporation, states:
 
INTERSPORT is clearly the market leader in Europe. It is our goal to become market leader in the area multi-sports, multi-brand retailing also in the Asian-Pacific region within the next ten years. With New Huadu and INTERSPORT, two ideal partners have joined. New Huadu is already very successful, with extensive experience in retail, an access to the ideal locations and a readiness to invest in a successful and profitable development with INTERSPORT.
 
 
With a turnover of over EUR 9.9 billion and more than 5'400 specialist sports stores in 40 countries, the INTERSPORT Group has further strengthened its position as the leader in the world’s sporting goods market.
 
Further Information:
 
Franz Julen
IIC-INTERSPORT International Corp.
3006 Bern / Schweiz
Tel: +41-31-930 7804
Fax: +41-31-930 7897
e-mail: franz.julen@intersport.com
Web: www.intersport.com
 
Zhou Wengui
Fujian New Huadu Supercenter Co. Ltd.
Fuzhou / PR China
Tel: +86-591-872 70 368
Fax: +86-591-872 70 366
e-mail: ceo@nhd.com.cn
Web: www.nhd-mart.com

 

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