You are in:
Intersport and Allied Group announce merger and redefine market landscape
The arrangement will result in a single buying platform, trading under the INTERSPORT name, which will draw on the best practice and expertise from both parties to create a powerful UK resource for the independent trade. The merger agreement was struck between INTERSPORT’s General Manager, Barry Mellis, and Peter Bateman the chairman of Allied and was the result of a series of negotiations between the two parties over the last few months.
INTERSPORT will immediately be able to draw on the strong business relationships that the Allied Group have established with their suppliers. Additionally, the merger provides INTERSPORT with the benefits of the Allied Group’s unique partnership with global sports trade show ispo and a newly launched loyalty card scheme. Allied Group’s regular supplier promotions, their recognised skills in sourcing high quality products and ability to identify unique suppliers seeking wider distribution were all instrumental considerations in sealing the merger. Effective communications and the strong synergy between the Allied Group members, through a category manager structure, also played an integral role in the agreement.
Says Peter Bateman, Chairman of Allied Partners Ltd ‘ After nearly thirty years of being a most successful independent and hands on buying group, we feel now is the time to merge with INTERSPORT UK. Whilst we currently enjoy an excellent networking relationship with ISRA and will continue to do so, we are very excited at the prospect of joining forces with such a strong market leader in the UK as INTERSPORT. We are confident that this new merger will bring the best out in both of us for the overall benefit of the industry.’
Involvement in the four annual, well established INTERSPORT shows will provide Allied Group and their suppliers with an enhanced networking forum and a powerful buying platform at a prime exhibition site. Importantly, INTERSPORT’S corporate structure will provide a fully staffed administrative centre for the Allied Partners Group.
Barry Mellis, General Manager of INTERSPORT comments “I have dealt with Allied over the past twenty years and have come to admire their working practices and their principles. As organisations we hold dear a similar ethos and like ideals, we are both non-profit making groups, and we reached our agreement based on the clear and abiding synergies that exist between us. As a larger enterprise we believe we can serve all our members more effectively and together we can deliver even better value and greater advantages by the careful, sensitive and systematic integration of the best practices from both groups.”
The new relationship will further benefit suppliers, who have been quick to signal their approval of the merger.
