Aggregate annual sales were up by more than 10 percent in our latest analysis. The three largest sports retailers worldwide come from Europe. The North American region nearly reached double-digit growth, with three retailers leading the way. China is still recovering from the effects of the pandemic. Read on for the full analysis and see who are the biggest sports retailers worldwide.

The world’s biggest sports retailers 2022

Aggregate annual sales from the world’s largest sporting goods retailers increased by 11 percent in 2022, reaching $148,712 million in weighted local currencies. This is up from $142,110 million in 2021. When compared with 2021, sales figures were up by 4.7 percent in US dollars.

Just under half (44%) of the 50 entrants in our list are based in North America, which remains the largest global market for sporting goods retail. North American sports retailers bought in more than $73.8 billion from 22 entrants in 2022. The remaining 56 percent of the 50 retailers in our annual ranking are based outside of the US and Canada.

So, who are the biggest sports retailers in the world? The three largest sporting goods retailers in terms of annual revenues in US dollars are based in Europe. In 2022, the European retail giants Decathlon, JD Sports Fashion and Intersport generated a combined $45.8 billion in yearly sales. That’s 30.8 percent of the world’s retail volume in sporting goods. JD operates some of its retail stores in the US and Canada.

Just 5 sporting goods retailers – which, in addition to the European entrants, also include Dick’s Sporting Goods and Foot Locker in the US – accounted for more than $69.6 billion in 2022 sales in aggregate. 46.8 percent of the worldwide total.

 

European sports retailers at a glance

The European sporting goods retail market is represented by 18 retailers. After rising by 21 percent in 2021, the annual sales increased moderately to 5.2 percent in 2022, to $60.6 billion (17 percent in a weighted change in local currency).

Six companies reported sales of more than $1 billion. Eleven retailers had higher year-over-year sales, with six up by a double-digit percentage. But hurt by inflationary and macroeconomic pressures, two Norweigan retailers – XXL Sport and Sport Holding – had lower year-over-year sales in 2022, both down by double-digits on softer demand.

 

Get a full analysis of the European numbers

Merchants in North American: Sports retailers grow 9 percent

Eight of the 22 North American retailers on our annual ranking posted double-digit annual sales increases in 2022. More than half of the North American sporting goods retailers had higher year-over-year sales, as the overall regional market grew by 9 percent in 2022 to $73.8 billion.

Dick’s Sporting Goods led the group with an 11.0 percent sales gain in 2022 to $13.7 billion. This was followed by a 13 percent sales increase at Foot Locker and a 26 percent year-over-year revenue jump at the Texas-based Academy Sports & Outdoor chain.

Despite the relative strength of the market’s largest players, it should be noted that seven entrants in the region had lower year-year-over sales, including double-digit dips at Tilly’s and Scheels. Maine’s L.L. Bean had flat sales for the year.

 

Asian sports retailers suffer a second straight year-over-year sales drop

The last global region to recover from pandemic effects is Asia. The region saw a second consecutive year of lower retail sales of sporting goods, with its two largest players, Topsports and Pou Sheng, reporting double-digit declines in annual revenues.

In total, sales in Asia fell by 13 percent in dollars to nearly $14.3 billion, down from $16.4 billion in 2021. In a weighted change in local currency, that’s a -5 percent change.

The three largest companies in the group – Topsports, Pou Sheng and Japan’s Alpen – generated 60.5 percent of the region’s sales.

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Methodology: 

The data is primarily based on publicly reported figures. Our own estimates, input from management, other sources and third-party reports from rating agencies are utilized for private companies. We cover sports bikes in our study, but not bikes used for urban transportation. 

All figures reported in currencies other than euros are converted at the average exchange rate for the year. Figures are stated as reported by the companies, representing net revenues.

 

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