South Africa is set to welcome the arrival of British sportswear giant JD Sports, courtesy of The Foschini Group (TFG), through an exclusive franchise agreement. TFG’s CEO Anthony Thunström highlighted the move as an expansion of their sports portfolio, leveraging their existing brands like Sportscene, Totalsports, and Sneaker Factory. Thunström expressed confidence in introducing JD to the South African market, tapping into their vast customer base of over 35 million.
“We anticipate rolling out the first JD Sports stores by year-end,” Thunström affirmed.
For JD Sports, this partnership aligns with its global growth strategy, particularly its ‘JD Brand First’ initiative, targeting markets with growth potential. Over the next five years, TFG plans to establish more than 40 JD stores across South Africa, featuring brands such as Nike, Adidas, New Balance, and Under Armour.
Regis Schultz, CEO of JD Sports Fashion plc, emphasized the significance of the franchise agreement in advancing their strategic plan. “Working with TFG, one of South Africa’s esteemed retailers, is a testament to our commitment to expanding JD’s distinctive offerings worldwide,” Schultz stated.
