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Daily News Feed 04/20/2026 Puma Taps Laurent Fricker to Lead Sportstyle
The 20-year Adidas and Reebok veteran is the latest of many executives to change teams on the north bank of the mighty Aurach River, taking charge of The Big Cat’s heritage product on June 1. Lululemon Expands Footprint in Mexico
The Lulunatics launched their e-commerce platform in Mexico, aiming to scale its integrated retail, digital presence, and omnichannel prowess, with around eight new stores opening there in FY 26. Wilson Combat Acquires Custom Firearms Maker
Wilson Combat inked an agreement to acquire Guncrafter Industries' brand and assets, bringing the two U.S. custom firearms manufacturers together. Nike Takes Heat for Sarcastic Boston Marathon Sign
The Eager Beavertons have apologized after a barrage of social media outrage over a “Runners Welcome. Walkers Tolerated” sign posted in a Nike store window near the Boston Marathon finish line. Etcetera: Goldwin, Asics, Outdoor Business Alliance, Reebok
04/17/2026 Retailers Will Accelerate Store Openings This Year
Industry retailers plan to grow their aggregate square footage by 2.6% in 2026, nearly double last year’s pace, led by the ambitious opening cadence of Dick’s and Academy Sports’ big-box stores. S&P Global Downgrades Nike to Negative
S&P downgraded the Eager Beavertons’ outlook from stable to negative, reflecting the prolonged time it’s taking to overhaul its merchandising and go-to-market strategies, while the ratings agency affirmed the Swoosh’s A+ long-term issue credit rating and A-1 short-term commercial paper rating. Fitch Weighs in on Gildan after HBI Deal Closes
The ratings agency affirmed GIL’s long-term issuer default rating of BBB with a stable outlook, trumpeting Gildan’s $4.5 billion acquisition of Hanesbrands, nearly doubling the company’s revenue base to just over $6.0 billion, guided for FY ‘26 from $3.3 billion standalone. Adidas Launches Global Media Review
The Big a spent over €3 billion on global marketing efforts last year, and is now opening a global pitch process for its media account, Campaign UK first reported.
The Groupe Bruxelles Lambert-owned brand tapped Matthias Meier as CEO, effective May 1, succeeding founder and long-time chief, Roman Arnold, who will remain executive chairman and focus on product innovation and strategy. Report: Chip Wilson Creates New Investment Entity
The Lululemon founder and major Amer Sports shareholder is apparently taking time away from his proxy battle with LULU’s board to form a venture to back new and existing athletic-focused brands, Bloomberg reported. Vendors, Employees Spared in Pre-packaged QVC Bankruptcy
The shopping network has reached a deal with lenders to restructure $6.6 billion in debt to just $1.3 billion and emerge within 90 days from a pre-packaged Chapter 11 filing in S. TX bankruptcy court. Etcetera: PGA Tour Superstore, Birkenstock, Eagle Creek, On Running, Astral Designs
04/16/2026 Outdoor Industry Heads to Washington
It’s a busy month on the advocacy front for outdoor trade groups as the Outdoor Industry Association prepares for its annual Capitol Summit in Washington from Apr. 28-29, and the Outdoor Alliance penned a letter to lawmakers calling for full funding of the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management and implementation of the EXPLORE Act. Decathlon, JD Sports, and Lululemon Among Largest Global Retailers
Decathlon, JD Sports, and Lululemon each appear on the NRF’s Top 50 Global Retailers list, compiled by Kantar Retail using a point system that rewards international direct selling and reveals which retailers are building genuine cross-border scale. Stella Int’l Sees Pricing Drive Revenue Gains
Revenues at the high-end sneaker maker ticked up 2% to $337.4 million to start the year, up from $331.0 million a year ago, reversing Q1 ‘25s 2% decline. Unisport Group Enters U.S. with Arocam Acquisition
European soccer e-tailer Unisport is buying Arocam, Inc., owner of omnichannel soccer specialty retailer WeGotSoccer, for undisclosed terms. New Balance Taps Knauer to Lead North America
NB promoted long-time employee Tracy Knauer to senior vice president, North America, as the brand aims to continue building on its strong momentum in its home market. National Park Visits Decline in March
National Park recreational visits dropped 5% year-over-year to 22,963,669 last month from 24,149,220, while year-to-date visits are up 3% to 54,001,086 from 52,273,407. Cobra Golf Loses Patent Appeal
The Federal Circuit declined to revive a club head patent application from Puma’s golf subsidiary that had been rejected by the USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Adidas Sued for Sex Discrimination
The Big a’s former head of women’s basketball sports marketing, Lindsay Gregg, filed suit against the company in Multnomah County Circuit Court in Portland, OR. Etcetera: Asics, Patagonia, American Outdoor Brands, Nike, Decathlon, Wilson
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