Decathlon is further expanding its activities in Switzerland, while introducing the concept of franchising in mountain areas. According to Swiss media reports, a first franchise store is to open in Valais in the winter of 2022. Decathlon also intends to generate further growth in its wholesale business. Since mid-2020, the French company has been selling sporting goods such as bicycles and scooters in the Swiss stores of the Fnac retail chain, which specializes in entertainment products, as it has done also in France. New stores are planned in the areas of Zurich and Lucerne, as well as in the Italian-speaking Ticino canton. As part of the expansion program, the company has launched a recruitment campaign to add around 200 employees to its existing staff of 850 by the end of 2021. It is also planning to expand its 18.000-square-meter Swiss warehouse at Onnens in the canton of Vaud, which Decathlon moved into at the beginning of 2019. Decathlon’s business in Switzerland is a joint venture with the Maus-Frères group, formed through the acquisition of its former 23 Athleticum stores in 2018, which have all been converted to the Decathlon banner and format. There are now 24 Decathlon stores in Switzerland, and two others will soon open in Onnens and Egerkingen. As previously reported, the company’s sales went up by 22 percent in Switzerland last year. Reportedly, this was due in part to a jump of 50 percent in its online business and the bike boom in an overall flat Swiss sporting goods market.

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