News

VILLENEUVE D’ASCQ, France – Decathlon has announced a suppliers stop. During Bike Europe’s last week’s visit to the Taichung mini trade shows this was a much discussed topic.

End November Europe’s biggest bicycle seller directed its component and complete bike suppliers to stop shipments because forecasts in bike sales were not met by actual demand.

During the Taichung mini trade show it was said that Decathlon budgeted to sell 2.4 million bikes in 2008 and that in fact only 1.9 million were sold. Subsequently stock levels for bikes in Decathlon’s sports department stores around Europe are high. Suppliers are directed not to ship their products during the month of December.

Bike Europe asked Olivier Constant, the manager of the b’Twin bike division of Decathlon, by e-mail to comment on the news. He didn’t reply.