CORPORATE
+++ Stif Mountain Bikes, a UK company with locations in Bristol and North Yorkshire, will close in September, concluding its long-standing presence in the country’s cycling scene
+++ Specialty chemical producer Huntsman Corporation has relocated its Global Business Services center in Kraków to a new, future-ready office space to support growth, innovation and workforce development
+++ Nikwax has been named one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2025, following an 82% employee engagement score and recognition for its employee-owned, sustainability-focused workplace culture
+++ Canadian retail operator Hudson’s Bay will lay off over 9,000 employees – about 90% of its workforce – by mid-June 2025 as it liquidates all stores and winds down operations +++
MARKET STATISTICS
+++ The Giro d’Italia generates an estimated €2.1 million in local economic impact, according to a recent report by Banca Ifis on the bike economy, titled “Pedaling Toward Excellence: Giro d’Italia, the Bike Industry and Made in Italy” +++
RETAIL
+++ Billionaire businesswoman Weihong (Ruby) Liu has agreed to acquire up to 28 Hudson’s Bay store leases in Canada, marking a major retail transformation as she prepares to launch a new, multicultural department store chain from scratch under her company Central Walk
+++ Centre Commercial will inaugurate a 90-sqm. store entirely dedicated to outdoor gear in Paris’ 10th arrondissement on June 5 +++
E-COMMERCE & DTC
+++ Canadian hockey legend Doug Gilmour has joined MooseMarket.ca as the official spokesperson for the new platform promoting 100% Canadian-made products amid growing trade tensions with the US +++
EXECUTIVE CHANGES
+++ Deckers Brands has appointed Cynthia L. Davis as Chair of the Board, succeeding Michael F. Devine, III, who is retiring after over 14 years of service
+++ Hanwag has appointed Niklas Scherer as Regional Sales Manager for Northern and Eastern Germany, strengthening its focus on specialist outdoor retail partnerships
+++ Huntsman Corporation announced that Tony Hankins will retire as President of its Polyurethanes division at the end of 2025, with Steen Weien Hansen set to assume the role effective June 1
+++ Lenzing AG has appointed Georg Kasperkovitz as Chief Operations Officer, effective June 1, 2025, tasking him with overseeing global fiber production, operational excellence and site management in Lenzing
+++ Vail Resorts CEO Kirsten Lynch is stepping down and will be succeeded by former CEO Rob Katz, who returns to lead the company during a period of strategic transition
+++ Didriksons has appointed Åsa Widhed-Nordin as Sales Manager for Sweden and Norway to support its growth strategy in core Nordic markets +++
CSR & SUSTAINABILITY
+++ Protest Sportswear has awarded Belgian non-profit Active Adaptive a donation through its FUN(D) program to support inclusive sports initiatives for people with disabilities +++
PRODUCT
+++ Italian brand Santini has launched a new range of aerodynamic apparel for competitive cyclists called MADSS, an acronym for Mega AeroDynamic Speed Shell
+++ Arc’teryx has launched the Alpha SL, an ultralight, ultra-durable climbing pack made with Aluula Graflyte, offering over 50% weight reduction and enhanced performance for alpine athletes
+++ German bike brand Corratec has partnered with linexo to offer integrated e-bike insurance and tracking via the My c-Finder, providing customers with enhanced protection, flexible coverage options and exclusive discounts starting with the MY24 model range +++
TRAVEL
+++ Vail Resorts has added Austria’s Mayrhofen and Hintertux ski areas to its Epic Pass for the 2025/26 season, offering five consecutive days of access with passes currently on sale at the lowest price through May 26 +++
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