HOEVELAKEN, the Netherlands – The intended merger between the two buying groups Euretco and Intres will reshuffle the Dutch retail market. As both organizations handle the Sport 2000 and Intersport banners in the Netherlands they represent a substantial market share in the sporting goods market. The new organization will be named Euretco.
As a result of this intended merger either Sport 2000 or Intersport will have to look for a new owner. Both Sport 2000 International and Intersport International Corporation have made it clear that the licenses for their two banners could not be held by the same company.
It is too early for Euretco and Intres to choose which brand they will continue as the final decision of the merger will be made on March 5. Next to that the Dutch competition authority has to approve the merger since both groups involve nearly 3,500 stores.
It is reported that it won’t be a problem to find a new owner for either Sport 2000. The Ariston-Nord-West-Ring (ANWR) already announced to be prepared to take over the Sport 2000 license for the Netherlands instantly. ANWR has the Sport 2000 license for Germany and Switzerland, and it recently took over Garant. Sport 2000 runs about 90 shops in the Netherlands as a franchise network.
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