“The year started pretty well, but we’re no longer seeing the growth rates of the past few years. We used to have double-digit growth rates, but now the growth is only 6%,” says Antoniu Nituleasa, the Romanian executive who runs the business.
Intersport posted about 180 million lei (EUR39 million) revenue last year, 12% higher than in 2016. The revenue has gone up by 25% in the past two years.
Intersport sporting goods chain, which arrived in Romania about 15 years, has 29 stores in the country and wants to end the year with 31, following two openings, a closure and at least one remodeling.
Inaugurations will begin in September, when three stores are due to open an the first of them will be in Iulius Mall Iasi.
“Intersport will also open new stores in Sibiu (in the shopping center held by NEPI-Rockcastle) and in Satu Mare by yearend.”
The sporting goods market valued at EUR550 million to EUR600 million is split among specialist stores – Hervis, Intersport and Decathlon, single-brand stores – Adidas, Nike, online stores and hypermarket chains.(EUR1=RON4.6489)
(English version by Loredana fratila-Cristescu)