The latest news, analysis and data on corporate strategic initiatives, the latest mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, insolvencies and cooperations in the outdoor industry.
Lowa reports top sales figures for 2021
The German mountain, outdoor and everyday footwear manufacturer Lowa has ended 2021 with peak figures for both the number of pairs of shoes sold and revenue, thanks to the ongoing outdoor boom. Sales climbed from 2.49 million pairs in 2020 to 3.17 million pairs in 2021. At the same time, ...
Pelican International acquires GSI Outdoors
Canadian paddlesports supplier Pelican International, Inc. (not to be confused with U.S. specialty case manufacturer Pelican Products Inc.) has acquired a majority stake in Spokane-based GSI Outdoors. The transaction is an important step in Pelican’s growth as it strives to diversify its offerings in the North American and international outdoor ...
Thule Group with new product categories, updates financial targets
At its capital markets day, the Swedish Thule Group has presented plans to enter the two new product categories in 2023: car seats – to be launched in Europe first, expanding worldwide in a second step – and dog transport products, starting with a dog cage.
Vittoria Group builds bike park and innovation center in Italy
Italian bicycle tire giant Vittoria Group has begun construction of what it describes as “the world’s first all-discipline cycling experience, innovation center and knowledge hub for bicycle tire development.” Vittoria Park will be built around the company’s headquarters near Milan. It will also house an impressive testing area open to ...
Alpkit receives growth funding, plans to launch footwear this summer
Nottingham-based outdoor brand Alpkit has received £2.7 million (€3.2m) in funding from HSBC UK, backed by UK Export Finance (UKEF), the U.K.’s export credit agency and a ministerial department of the UK government, to support its domestic and international growth. Alpkit said it will use the funds to buy more ...
Online Brands Nordic completes acquisition of Nordic Kidswear and Isbjörn of Sweden
E-commerce specialist Online Brands Nordic AB has finalized the acquisition of Nordic Kidswear AB, which includes Isbjörn of Sweden, the sustainable Swedish outdoor children’s clothing brand, as previously announced in January. Founded in 2005 by Maria Frykman and Camilla Schmidt, Isbjörn of Sweden has an undisputed reputation for producing highly ...
TVS Motor Group acquires majority stake in another European e-bike company
The acquisition of an 80 percent majority stake in Swiss e-bike brand Ego Movement last year was followed by a 75 percent majority stake in Swiss E-Mobility Group (SEMG, the parent company of domestic e-bike retail chain M-Way, among others) in February 2022. Now, Indian two-wheeler and utility vehicle manufacturer ...
Rebike Mobility completes another round of financing, expansion outside Germany planned
Rebike Mobility GmbH, a German provider of used e-bikes founded in 2018, has announced the completion of a new round of capitalization. Leading the round is Circularity Capital, a European investor for growth companies in the circular economy. The new co-investors Tengelmann Ventures and Parkshore Holding bring strategic experience to ...
Government-funded VeloLab founded to encourage innovation in the German bike sector
A new platform called VeloLab was launched in early April 2022 with the goal to strengthen the bicycle as a means of transport in Germany. As a funding project of the Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV) within the national cycling plan (NRVP) framework, VeloLab is a digital ...
Restructuring of SRAM’s European OE sales team
After seven successful years as director of OE sales Europe at bicycle component manufacturer SRAM Group (brands Avid, Hammerhead, Quarq, Rockshox, SRAM, Time Sport, Truvativ, Zipp), Uwe Reichelt is entering his well-deserved retirement. The German company has already used the last few months to reorganize and expand the European OE ...