Go Sport retail group’s consolidated revenue up 11% in 2016, driven by Courir

By

Olivier Guyot

Translated by
Nicola Mira

Published
Mar 13, 2017

For the third consecutive year, French sport retail group Go Sport has posted a growth in sales, reporting a 3.5% rise in like-for-like terms and at constant exchange rates in 2016 over the previous year, up to €749 million. Though figures were not disclosed, the group suggested that both its EBITDA and current operating income are rising. 

Adding to this the revenue of its Go Sport, Twinner and Courir partners and franchisees, the group's consolidated revenue reached €930 million, equivalent to an 11% rise over 2015. Growth was chiefly driven by the performance of Courir in France, where its revenue rose by 24% to €270 million, notably through a leap in online sales.

At the end of 2016 Courir operated 218 stores in France, compared to 197 a year earlier. The increase was due to the acquisition of 12 former Bata stores and to a franchising drive which brought the total of affiliated stores to 33, compared to 23 in 2015. Courir has also created a new store concept, called Wood, which is already in place in two locations in Paris, and will be implemented in a handful of other, strategically located stores in 2017.

Revenue for the Go Sport chain in France grew by 3.9%, while comparable sales were stable, reaching €430 million. Like Courir, Go Sport powered up its affiliation programme, which brought the store count to 34 at the end of 2016. Following a deal was struck with the owners of Twinner stores, another 72 locations will be switched to the Go Sport Montagne name.

Internationally, the Go Sport group reported a 4.2% rise in comparable sales in Poland, where the group, which opened two shops last year, operates 32 stores. Its franchising business expanded too, with another 17 openings, notably in the Republic of Congo, Malta and Israel. André Ségura, the group's General Manager, is keen to sustain this momentum in 2017, and Go Sport plans to open in the Philippines this year, with five stores on the cards.

As of 31st December 2016, the group was operating a total of 558 stores, of which 87 outside France (69 for GO Sport and 18 for Courir). The Go Sport group belongs to French retail group Rallye, also owner of mass market retailer Casino.