CRC Sports, a subsidiary of Central Retail, has finalized a deal to acquire a 40% stake in JD Sports Thailand (JD Sports Fashion (Thailand) Co., Ltd.) to aggressively enter the premium sports lifestyle market. This move extends the Supersports retail empire, Thailand's number one sports retailer, allowing it access to leading sports brands and exclusive product distribution rights from global brand partners.
This investment marks a significant business portfolio expansion for CRC Sports, the operator of Supersports stores. It will complement its existing focus on Sport Performance products sold at Supersports and Rev Runnr stores by expanding into the rapidly growing Sport Lifestyle and Sneaker Culture segments, especially among younger consumers, aiming to become the market leader.
Tai Chirathivat, Chief Executive Officer of Central Retail Brand & Specialty (CRBS). He stated that the partnership with JD Sports, a British sports fashion retailer with over 4,900 stores in 49 countries and key global partners like Adidas and Nike, as well as managing over 30 leading brands including New Balance and On, will reinforce CRC Sports' position as a leading hub for sports brands that cater to every life stage and lifestyle of consumers.
This collaboration enables the company to expand operations and partnerships with major global brands covering all customer segments. It opens opportunities for Central Retail to fully enter the 35 billion THB sports lifestyle market, which grows at about 6% annually, aiming to capture up to 40% market share and clearly become the number one leader in the sports lifestyle market.
Currently, JD Sports Thailand operates 15 branches nationwide, generating over 2 billion THB in annual sales. CRC Sports plans to expand to 30 branches within five years, strategically locating them within Central Group properties to better reach premium and fashion lifestyle customers.
On the CRC Sports side, there are currently over 129 stores including 88 Supersports branches, 24 Rev Runnr stores, and 17 Mono Stores. The addition of JD Sports will enhance the sports retail ecosystem, covering both Performance and Lifestyle segments more comprehensively.
Alexandre Umbel, Managing Director of CRC Sports Co., Ltd. He said the deal will give the company direct profit sharing from JD Sports Thailand and create new growth opportunities in the Sport Fashion market, which is becoming one of the fastest growing segments in sports retail.
Regarding Central Retail Corporation (CRC), it currently operates 3,723 stores in Thailand and Vietnam across four main business sectors: Food, Hardline, Fashion, and Property. The fashion sector, which includes Supersports, is a key strategic business aimed at expanding the customer base with high purchasing power and targeting the new lifestyle generation.
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