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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Intersport Austria still wants to expand
“The Intersport-group could increase its turnover in the countries Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary of 2% because of a very good summer season”, declared Intersport Austria’s President Gabriele Fenninger. 140 connected retailers in 286 locations made altogether 656.3 million Euro in the business year 2006/07 (per end of August).
In Austria, the medium-sized members (without Sports Experts) on 251 locations increased their turnover up to 474.8 million Euro (+4.9%). The foreign markets (35 locations) contributed additionally a good amount, namely 52.2 million Euro (+23%). Intersport wants to be market leader abroad, too.
Whereas the entire ski market in Austria decreased by 20% in the past years, Gabriele Fenninger explained that Intersport could close the period between September and March with only 1% down. The decrease was nearly compensated by the year-round ranges. After the record winter in the previous year decreased alpine ski (-10%), snowboards (-8%), ice sports (-18%), touring skis (-16%) and Nordic skis (-37%). In contrast, other sports increased strongly: running (+26%), fitness (+24%), outdoor (+22%), bike (+21%), racket sports (+19%), trend fashion (+19%), swimming and beach (+17%), inline skates (+9%) and sports (+7%).
In the Czech Republic (turnover: 36.4 million Euro in 24 locations), Intersport Austria completed its shares (76%) on the present partner Sport Centrum Drapa and took over the remaining 24%.
Michael Rupp: From Reebok to Rockport
Michael Rupp, Reebok’s CEO since August 2006, changes as President and CEO to the affiliated company Rockport by January 1, 2008. Rick Paterno retires from this position because of private reasons. Since October 2005, after Adidas made its Reebok-deal public, Rupp was involved in the integration. The Adidas-group made a turnover of 4.94 billion Euro (+1 %) in the first six months of 2007. Adidas increased up to 3.45 billion Euro (+ 4%), Reebok decreased down to 1.03 billion (- 1%). TaylorMade-Adidas Golf decreased down to 419 million Euro (-10 %), due to the selling of the Greg Norman Collection.
Elan: New top manager
The management of Elan (Begunje) made its decision: present Sales Director Matjaz Grm replaces Martin Lehner as Vice President Sales & Marketing. Dominik Heigemeier (so far responsible for commercial promotion in Germany) is the new Regional Business Manager for Central Europe and Scandinavia. Elan increased its worldwide turnover up to 117.5 million Euro (+ 13.1%) in 2006 and plans despite the bad pre-winter a production increase (OEM for Rossignol) up to 640,000 pairs (+ 3.5%) this year.
Artec becomes independent
Artec Snowboards is from now on an independent brand. Former snowboard-pro Blaise Rosenthal was engaged as Creative Director and compiled a prominent group which made the brand wellknown. To the group belong the famous snowboarders Gabe Taylor, Nima Jalali, Laura Hadar, Jake Devine, Gus Engle, and Johnny Miller. The Artec Project was started as freestyle-series by Elan Snowboards three years ago and pre-priced among others with the Volvo Sports Design Award. Sevysa takes over the distribution of Springboost in Switzerland Swiss sports shoes-supplier Springboost has a new distributor in Switzerland. So far, the Swiss sporting goods retail was attended directly by the supplier. From now on, the sporting goods importer Sevysa Sport SA (Adens) will be in charge of the retailers.
Sevysa (founded in 1995 and directed by Herbert Marxer) distributes already the snowboard brand Hammer. Spingboost, whose footwear bases on the principle of dorsiflexion, was founded by ex Reebokmanager Andrew Silvestri in 2003.
Quiksilver Europe: New General Manager is Peter Knoll Quiksilver Europe strengthened its management and nominated Peter Knoll as General Manager for its European business. The former director of the Ispo-Group manages already the affairs in Russia and Germany of the surf wear brand and will start the newly created position in November. The 40-year-old is supported by Nicolas Foulet who moved up to Marketing Director Europe and replaces Garry Wall.
Rumours: Will Lenzing be sold?
Recently, more and more rumours that Austrian fibre supplier Lenzing could be sold. Although the company was not willing to make any comment so far, media in Austria are suggesting Russian oligarch Andrej Kozitsyn, after Indian competitor Birla, could be a potential prospective buyer. Moreover, the bank Raiffeisenlandesbank Oberösterreich should be interested in Lenzing-shares.
