Decathlon Expanding (Again) In US

LILLE, France – Sporting goods retail giant Oxylane Group, parent company of Decathlon, is expanding its business activities outside its current markets Europe, Asia and South America. For the second time Oxylane Group is trying to gain a foothold on the North American market.

Reports say that the French retailer has bought a site in Ontario, California, located east of Los Angeles. The site of approximately 40,000 square meters is meant to accommodate a superstore and a logistic hub.

Oxylane Group has invested US$ 11.75 million (€ 9.3 mn) to obtain the property according to a report in ‘The Press-Enterprise’. The site is located in an existing retail complex on Milliken Avenue. This shopping centre is currently 85% vacant, which forced its former owners into foreclosure. Despite the difficult position of the shopping mall it seems to be well located visible from Interstate 10 and is close to Ontario Mills, one of the area’s largest shopping malls.

In 1999 Oxylane Group already tried to start on the US market by the acquisition of a regional chain MVP Sports with 20 stores. Plans were made to expand to 200 outlets in the USA by 2009. However, in 2003 the number of stores was reduced to only four and in 2006 Oxylane pulled back all its investments from the US market. Competition from local players was one of the main reasons for the downturn.