EXECUTIVE CHANGES
+++ Willy Bogner GmbH has appointed former Puma CEO Arne Freundt as its new CEO effective June 1, following the departure of Gerrit Schneider and the acquisition of a majority stake in the winter sports brand by Katjes International last year
+++ eBay has appointed Priya Suri, VP People Business Partners, to the board of the eBay Foundation to strengthen governance and employee engagement following a year in which 73 percent of eBay employees participated in giving or volunteering initiatives +++
RETAIL & DISTRIBUTION
+++ Wolverine has entrusted the distribution in Spain of Merrell Kids and Saucony Kids to Pacal Shoes, the distribution arm of family-owned Grupo Paredes (Elche, Alicante), according to Diffusion Sport
+++ JD Sports Fashion plans to expand the large-format “mega store” concept of GO Outdoors across the UK despite declining outdoor division sales and rising operating costs, while also preparing to close selected underperforming Blacks stores
+++ Ribble Cycles has partnered with Cotswold Outdoor to launch a new in-store retail concept in Leeds city center, combining Ribble’s direct-to-consumer custom bike model with physical retail access and expert fitting services across road, gravel, hybrid and electric bikes
+++ HLC has been appointed exclusive Canadian distributor for Adidas Five Ten, with responsibility for nationwide sales, distribution and retailer support through its network of more than 1,000 active dealer accounts +++
PRODUCT & MARKETING
+++ Alé has announced a new collaboration with former professional road bicycle racer Nicolas Roche, who currently competes in gravel cycling, on gravel product development
+++ Scarpa has announced that it is now on TikTok at @Scarpaworld
+++ Smith is the official supplier of protective helmets and goggles for Emirates Team New Zealand as the team aims to secure a fourth consecutive title at the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup in Naples, Italy, in 2027
+++ The North Face has signed an eight-year agreement to become the official performance apparel partner of US Ski & Snowboard through 2034, supplying competition outerwear across all 11 disciplines for World Cups, World Championships and the 2030 and 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, while also launching a consumer collection inspired by the partnership in Fall 2026
+++ Scarpa has introduced the Ribelle Cross 2, a versatile, waterproof light hiking shoe designed to provide stability on all terrains
+++ Loewe and On have unveiled the limited-edition LightSpray Cloudmonster, combining On’s new seamless LightSpray manufacturing technology with Loewe’s luxury design approach in a lightweight laceless performance shoe launching on May 14
+++ Quiksilver is reviving its early-2000s “Young Guns” platform with a new 17-piece performance surf collection and an athlete-driven film campaign featuring surfers including Kanoa Igarashi ahead of a global release in August 2026
+++ Colorado-based start-up RSVR Hydration has launched a modular, patent-pending hydration platform featuring a body-contoured aerodynamic reservoir system designed to reduce weight, bounce and drag for endurance athletes, with the Kickstarter-funded product scheduled to ship in August 2026
+++ Helinox received multiple 2026 Red Dot Product Design Awards, including the top “Best of the Best” distinction for its Helinox Wear Eclipse Pack Down Jacket, alongside awards for its ultralight Zero LT furniture collection, Sunshade and Korean Grill Set
+++ JanSport is entering the modern travel category with its new Good Latitude Travel Collection, a sustainable luggage and travel gear line made with recycled Loop Form fabric and launching June 3 across carry-on bags, duffels, travel packs and accessories +++
CSR & SUSTAINABILITY
+++ Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the 1,327-acre PM MITRA Kakatiya Mega Textile Park in Warangal on May 10, a Rs 1,700 crore (~€155m) integrated textile hub designed to strengthen India’s textile supply chain, attract billions in private investment and create more than 24,000 direct jobs +++
FINANCIAL REPORTING
+++ Leatt Corporation has authorized a new share repurchase program of up to $419,410 in outstanding common stock through the end of 2026, signaling continued confidence in the company’s long-term business strategy and shareholder value creation
+++ Alibaba Group said it will increase investment in artificial intelligence beyond its previously announced 380 billion yuan (€48.5 billion) plan despite a sharp profit decline, as strong growth in cloud and AI-related revenues strengthens confidence in long-term returns from its AI strategy +++
CORPORATE AND M&A
+++ SGS is opening a new ISO/IEC 17025- and ISTA-accredited bicycle, e-mobility and transit packaging testing laboratory in Bentonville, Arkansas, to expand its global testing and certification capabilities for bicycles, e-bikes and micromobility products
+++ US-based titanium bicycle frame manufacturer Lynskey Performance Products has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, citing cashflow problems linked to delayed order fulfillment, supplier debt and what the company described as significant Shopify reserve deposits and chargebacks following its e-commerce expansion
+++ Lone Star Funds has completed the acquisition of RadiciGroup’s high performance polymers and specialty chemicals businesses, following the announcement made in February 2025
+++ Safilo Group has now signed a binding agreement to acquire the Spy+ and Serengeti businesses from Bollé Brands for $26 million, strengthening its position in the sport/outdoor and premium eyewear segments +++
MARKET STATISTICS
+++ Ski and snowboard visits in the US dropped 14 percent in the 2025-2026 season, from 61.6 million to 52.6 million, according to data from the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), ranking 9 percent below the 10-year average, primarily due to low snow and warm temperatures +++
Click here to access our Short Stop archive
