In a press release timed before the big Ispo Winter show, the Marker Völkl Group claims that both of its brands managed to strengthen their positions among the leading suppliers of skis and bindings in 2010. The company's 2010 business year was characterized by a very positive order situation and a high production capacity utilization.
Völkl managed to increase its worldwide market share by 0.5 percent in 2010 to 13.5 percent, according to the group, and is therefore ranking fourth among the ski manufacturers around the world. In a booming U.S. market,Völkl ranks second and Marker ranks first in their respective categories. Both Völkl and Marker recorded higher sales last year in its important core markets besides North America including Germany, Austria, Switzerland or Scandinavia.
Christoph Bronder, president of the Marker Völkl Group, states that its success can be attributed in part to recent product innovations. On top of that, the very snowy start of the current winter start in Europe has led to increasing demand and caused the market to run out of some ski models.
At Ispo, Völkl will launch two new inn innovative models of premium alpine racing skies and Marker will introduce new ultra-light free-ride ski bindings developed in cooperation with Dalbello. The free-ski product segment is gaining more and more importance in Völkl's portfolio and the company aims to increase its market share in this segment with the launch of a new free-ski model that will be sold at the start of the season 2011/ 12.
The Marker Völkl Group is being awarded with the Eco Responsibility Award by the Ispo trade fair for the third time.
The parent company of Marker-Völkl, Jarden Corporation, will release its final results for the past year on Feb. 16. In a preliminary statement, the company said it booked sales of at least $1.65 billion in the fourth quarter, boosting full-year turnover to a record of about $6.0 billion. Revenues were underpinned by organic growth, supported by an improving consumer environment, and new acquisitions carried out during the year. Full-year cash from operations was higher than $250 million.
