Decathlon opens first store in Israel

French sport retailer Decathlon is keen to grow its international footprint, ultimately aiming to cover the whole globe. It is about to expand into the USA and Canada, and this week it is establishing a foothold in the Middle East.

On 29th August, Decathlon, owned by the Mulliez family, is making its entry into Israel, opening a store extending over 3,000 m2 on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, inside the Rishon Letsion shopping mall. The store will cover over 60 different sports, mostly showcasing the retailer's own budget brands. Decathlon, which is managed in Israel by Decathlon Israel's CEO Louise Chekroun, is energetically pursuing its policy of "making sport accessible to the general public."

After setting foot this year, for the first time, in Colombia and Switzerland, Decathlon is increasingly targeting international expansion. Its export business has grown 12% in 2016, faster than the sales rise recorded on the French domestic market (+2.2%). Still in 2016, Decathlon - which operates over 1,100 stores worldwide - generated 67% of its revenue outside France (€10 billion in total globally, + 12% compared to 2015).

Decathlon opens first store in Israel

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