FRANCE – Decathlon, a Lille, France-based global sporting goods retailer, acquired Bergfreunde, an online specialist retailer for mountain sports, climbing, and outdoor equipment.
The purchase agreement, which was signed on November 24th, is pending regulatory approval. Through this major investment, Decathlon intends to support Bergfreunde’s leadership in the long term, as they continue their development and growth journey. Upon closing, Bergfreunde will remain an autonomous & independent subsidiary, operating under the Bergfreunde brand, with their current business model being unchanged. Bergfreunde management, led by Matthias Gebhard and Matthias Gebhard and Ronny Höhn, Managing Directors, will remain in their current roles.Founded in Germany in 2006, Bergfreunde is an online specialist retailer for mountain sports, climbing, and outdoor equipment. The range includes 40,000 items from over 900 brands. The company sells exclusively online, which is localized for a total of twelve European markets, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, France, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom. including the Netherlands and France. The outdoor online retailer employs over 600 people at the administrative location in Kirchentellinsfurt and the logistics location in Ergenzingen near Tübingen. Led by Barbara Martin Coppola, Chief Executive Officer, Decathlon is a large sporting goods retailer, with over 1,700 stores in more than 70 countries. With its integrated business model, the company specialises in the creation and production of innovative sporting goods designed to delight and move people through the wonders of sport all around the world.27/11/2023
