CORPORATE AND M&A
+++ Dutch supply chain management specialist Bleckmann is expanding its UK operations with a new 70,786-sqm distribution center in Lutterworth, bringing its total footprint to 420,000 square meters and strengthening its logistics capabilities for fashion and lifestyle brands
+++ According to 1st-blue.com, German department store chain Galeria has delayed rent payments at several locations and is negotiating lease terms amid ongoing financial pressure and potential further store closures +++
PRODUCT & MARKETING
+++ Amazfit, part of the Dutch health technology company Zepp Health, is launching the Cheetah 2 Pro, a lightweight, titanium-built performance smartwatch designed to support marathon training through integrated coaching, advanced performance metrics and long battery life
+++ Seattle-based wilderness gear brand Astral has named former professional skier Angel Collinson as its newest “Archetype,” bringing her experience in outdoor sports, sailing and nature-based retreats into the brand’s product development and storytelling
+++ Salomon is partnering with marketing agency Playground on Gravelanza, a new gravel running event that will make its debut in the Meudon forest, around 15km from Paris, on June 13-14, 2026
+++ Pearl Izumi has launched PI Pro/Black, a new ultra-lightweight, athlete-developed cycling apparel system engineered for race-day performance, featuring advanced materials, aerodynamic design and up to 30% weight reduction compared to its existing Pro line
+++ POC has introduced the Amidal, a new road and gravel cycling helmet combining aerodynamic design, advanced ventilation, Mips Air Node protection and an integrated rear light option developed with Knog to enhance rider safety and performance
+++ Kiprun has signed elite ultra-trail runner and engineer Mathieu Blanchard to its international team in a three-year partnership aimed at strengthening performance credibility and integrating top-level racing insights into product development for a broader global running community
+++ Kizik has launched the Freedom Run, its first performance running shoe, integrating its patented hands-free step-in technology with running-specific features such as a responsive midsole, secure fit system and performance-oriented outsole
+++ The Lycra Company has launched its Lycra Antistatic fiber at Techtextil 2026, designed to deliver integrated anti-static performance alongside stretch comfort for workwear and personal protective equipment
+++ Vivobarefoot has launched its global “Free Your Feet” campaign, using ambassadors and minimalist messaging to challenge conventional footwear and promote a return to natural movement and sensory connection with the ground
+++ US performance headwear and apparel brand Fractel is funding the first dedicated para-athlete prize purse at Mammoth Trailfest to promote inclusion and recognition for adaptive athletes in trail running
++ The German Ski Association (DSV) and Roeckl Sports have extended and expanded their long-standing partnership through 2030, with Roeckl becoming the exclusive glove supplier for multiple national ski teams +++
CSR & SUSTAINABILITY
+++ Artist Moby announced that he will donate 100% of his Coachella performance profits to animal rights organizations, continuing his broader commitment to activism alongside his ongoing global tour and new album release
+++ Retail Giant Walmart has joined the US Cotton Trust Protocol to enhance supply chain transparency and scale its efforts in sourcing more sustainably produced cotton through verified data and traceability
+++ India’s Shahi Exports and US-based technology company Innovo Fiber said they are scaling the Fibre52 cotton pretreatment technology to an industrial level, reducing water and energy use while enabling lower-impact processing across large-scale textile production +++
RETAIL & DISTRIBUTION
+++ Decathlon has opened a dedicated “full running” concept store in Annecy, France, combining multi-brand product offerings with services and community engagement as part of its strategy to expand experiential retail in a key performance category
+++ Intersport will close its store in the Vågen shopping center in Örebro, Sweden, due to high rental costs and declining demand, with local management citing a broader decline in city center foot traffic
+++ Austrian brand KTM Bicycles has announced its return to the UK market +++
+++ VF Corp. has partnered with the Dutch electronics company Nedap to deploy a global inventory management platform across more than 1,500 stores, aiming to improve stock accuracy, omnichannel performance and supply chain transparency
+++ Head Sport GmbH has partnered with SnowWorld Group to supply rental and retail equipment across its indoor ski facilities, aiming to expand Head’s presence in year-round winter sports and enhance the guest experience +++
E-COMMERCE AND DTC
+++ British outdoor retailer Mountain Warehouse has replaced its legacy e-commerce system with a composable platform powered by BigCommerce to improve scalability, innovation speed and customer experience across its global markets +++
OBIT
+++ Snowboarding pioneer Paul Alden, who played a key behind-the-scenes role in establishing the sport’s competitive structure and gaining access to ski resorts and the Olympics, has died at the age of 89 +++
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