CRC Sports Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Central Retail, has closed a deal to acquire a 40% stake in JD Sports Thailand, officially known as JD Sports Fashion (Thailand) Co., Ltd. This move aims to aggressively enter the premium sports lifestyle market, enhancing the Supersports retail empire—Thailand's leading sports retailer—with access to top international sports brands and exclusive product distribution rights from global brand partners.
This investment marks a significant portfolio expansion for CRC Sports, the operator of Supersports stores, by complementing its existing focus on Sport Performance products sold at Supersports and Rev Runnr stores. It extends into the rapidly growing Sport Lifestyle and Sneaker Culture segments, especially popular among younger consumers, supporting the company's major goal of becoming the market leader in this sector.
Tai Chirathivat, Chief Executive Officer of Central Retail Brand and Specialty (CRBS), stated that partnering with JD Sports, a British sports fashion retailer with over 4,900 outlets in 49 countries, and a key global partner of major brands like Adidas and Nike, as well as managing over 30 leading brands including New Balance and On, will reinforce CRC Sports' position as the 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 top global brands covering all customer segments, allowing Central Retail to fully penetrate the 35 billion baht sports lifestyle market, which grows approximately 6% annually. The company aims to capture up to a 40% market share and clearly establish itself as the number one leader in the sports lifestyle market.
Currently, JD Sports Thailand operates 15 outlets nationwide with annual sales exceeding 2 billion baht. CRC Sports plans to double this to 30 stores within five years, leveraging strategic locations within the Central Group network to reach more premium and fashion lifestyle customers.
On the CRC Sports side, the network currently includes 129 stores: 88 Supersports outlets, 24 Rev Runnr stores, and 17 Mono Stores. The entry of JD Sports will enhance the sports retail ecosystem by covering both Performance and Lifestyle segments more comprehensively.
Alexandre Umbel, Managing Director of CRC Sports Co., Ltd., noted that this deal will allow the company to directly share profits 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 the overall Central Retail Corporation (CRC), it currently operates 3,723 stores across Thailand and Vietnam, covering four main business groups: Food, Hardline, Fashion, and Property. The fashion segment, which includes Supersports, is a key strategic business aimed at expanding the customer base among high purchasing power and new lifestyle groups.
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