adidas and INTERSPORT sign 2006 Football World Cup Partnership Agreement
Herzogenaurach/Ostermundigen, December 16, 2004 - The adidas-Salomon Group and IIC (INTERSPORT International Corporation) announced today the signing of an agreement which makes adidas the prime brand partner for the INTERSPORT Group in football during 2006. Both companies have agreed to keep the financial terms confidential.
Through this agreement adidas will be INTERSPORT's exclusive international football partner for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™. In addition, adidas will be the dominant football brand in INTERSPORT stores across Europe, Russia and Canada. INTERSPORT retailers will be given exclusive products, usage of adidas symbols and communication tools to support the product offering.
"This partnership reinforces the strategic partnership we have built with the INTERSPORT Group and will further strengthen the position of adidas as the world's leading football brand in our key European markets, including the World Cup host country Germany," said Roland Auschel, Head of Region Europe for adidas. "The partnerships with our key accounts are an important success factor for the future. As such, this agreement with the INTERSPORT Group is a key milestone that demonstrates our future cooperation with our key accounts via highly attractive, tailor-made trade marketing programs."
"Football is a core competence of every INTERSPORT retailer. Our expert authority positioning excels in offering professional advice, expertise, best value and competence not only to our customers, but also to teams and clubs. The international partnership with a competent world-leading football brand like adidas is the natural consequence and grants affiliated retailers a clear competitive advantage," commented Franz Julen, CEO of IIC.
adidas-Salomon is one of the global leaders within the sporting goods industry and offers a broad range of products with brands such as adidas, Salomon and TaylorMade in its portfolio. adidas is Official Supplier of the UEFA Champions League™ and Official Sponsor, Outfitter and Licensee of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™. Moreover, adidas is the partner of choice of many national football federations all over the globe (e.g. European Champion Greece, Asian Champion Japan, Argentina, Germany, France, Spain), clubs (e.g. Real Madrid, AC Milan, Bayern Munich, River Plate Buenos Aires) and players (e.g. David Beckham, Zinédine Zidane, Michael Ballack, Raúl González).
With a turnover of EUR 7.15 billion and more than 4,700 specialist sports shops in 28 countries, the INTERSPORT Group has further strengthened its position as the leader in the world sporting goods retail market.