Decathlon has announced its 2022 full-year results for the UK, showing a 6 percent increase in sales despite the pressure of double-digit inflation across Europe, as the company continues to invest heavily in developing its business model.
While consumer confidence hit its lowest level in 40 years, Decathlon UK increased sales by £17 million (€19.8m), reaching the £300 million (€348.8m) mark for the first time in its history. This included a 25 percent increase in physical store sales as customers chose to return to stores following the pandemic. Sales were boosted by the launch of partnerships with major retailers, including Argos, Tesco, Asda and Next.
Decathlon UK, considered a priority territory by the global company, ended 2022 with a loss of £8 million (€9.3m) after investing heavily in several projects across the value chain. Over £16 million (€18.6m) was invested in the UK business in 2022 (£8.6 million more than in 2021). This included introducing new automation technology for the warehouse, opening four new stores in Middlebrook, Livingston, Liverpool and York, digital infrastructure upgrades and closing a small number of stores incompatible with the evolution of the Decathlon model.
The past year was challenging from a financial perspective, primarily due to rising overhead costs, but Decathlon remained committed to its social programs. One such activity helped 400 homeless people in Liverpool play soccer, while in London, Decathlon’s continued partnership with London Sport enabled the development of initiatives to improve access to sport in local communities and provide more than 20,000 additional hours of sport for people living near stores. In addition, Decathlon 2022 launched its Health and Wellbeing partnership with Art-invest Real Estate, which will see £200,000 (€233,000) donated over the next five years to support local charities providing free sport and wellbeing initiatives in Southwark.
2022 also saw the launch of Decathlon’s Second Life program, which recycles, repairs and reuses products so they don’t go to waste. In addition, category-leading innovations were prepared, such as the UK’s first sports equipment rental scheme, which will be launched in March 2023, and preparations for Decathlon’s Buy Back program, which will also be launched in 2023.
Decathlon operates in 70 countries worldwide, and the British company, which has been in business since 1999, currently employs 1,615 people.
