Intersport International’s sales bounce back vigorously in 2021

By

Marion Deslandes

Translated by
Nicola Mira

Published
Jan 27, 2022

Intersport International executed a strong recovery last year, despite the pandemic’s continued impact. In the 2021 financial year, the sporting goods retail group generated a worldwide revenue of €12.2 billion, equivalent to a 20.7% increase over the previous year, and notably to an increase of 3% compared to 2019. In 2020, a year that was heavily penalised by the pandemic, Intersport International recorded a 13.8% shortfall in revenue.

The group, which was operating 5,430 stores in 42 countries at the end of 2021 (compared to 5,421 in 2020), said that it performed very successfully in H2, after a rather weak start to the year.

“Renewed consumer expenditure as the stores were able to reopen, and a widespread desire to engage in physical activity, especially outdoors, have contributed to this record-setting sales result,” stated Intersport International in a press release, adding that the result “confirms the group’s strong position on the retail market for sporting goods, as [Intersport International] is renowned for its know-how and advice, and appreciated for its store network’s ultra-localised presence.”

In terms of online sales, the group’s e-tail business increased by 25% over the past year (excluding sales generated by click & collect and ship-from-store services).

Moreover, in the summer of 2021, Intersport sold sneaker chain The Athlete’s Foot to the Arklyz Group, and the chain’s results are not included in the latest published figures.  

Looking towards 2022, the group’s managing director Steve Evers said he feels “very optimistic” about the group’s ability to “benefit from its proximity positioning and customer service expertise.” As proof of this, he indicated that orders already placed show double-digit growth for the spring-summer and fall-winter of 2022.

In France, Intersport International is present as a cooperative of about 750 stores that employ more than 10,000 people. The group, which has just started advertising on French TV again, is the leader for sport apparel sales in the country in terms of market share, according to market research firm Kantar.