Intersport International (IIC) closed 2023 with retail sales totaling €13.7 billion. This matched the previous year’s record result despite a very challenging business environment. At the end of the calendar year, the Switzerland-based group had a network of 5,381 stores worldwide, an increase of 72 stores compared to the previous year, strengthening the company’s presence in 42 countries around the globe.
After a strong start to the year, sales performance slowed after the first quarter, the international group said, due to a combination of factors, including the difficult economic and geopolitical climate, ongoing supply chain challenges, high inventory levels and rising operating costs. Despite these difficulties, IIC was able to maintain and even expand its strong position in many markets.
A global study shows that certain Intersport markets have seen exponential growth despite difficult conditions. Within the national organizations, there were outstanding performances that clearly outperformed others. In this context, some countries reported exceptional growth, along with countries such as France, Greece, Ireland and the entire Central and Eastern European region, where robust double-digit growth was achieved.
In addition, a notable trend emerged with positive sales growth in footwear and hard goods, which contrasted with the general decline in clothing sales. Finally, it became clear that consumers were predominantly returning to brick-and-mortar retail.
Positive outlook
“Despite the challenging climate, we anticipate a dynamic and successful year ahead with our Intersport banner, given the major events taking place in 2024 i.e., the European Football Championship in Germany and the Olympic Games in France, where we plan to open flagship stores in central Paris,” Steve Evers, IIC’s CEO, said, expressing optimism regarding the future growth of the group. “We are highly optimistic about our ability to capitalize on these opportunities and achieve robust growth once again.”
