Decathlon plans to nearly double presence in Germany

Decathlon, the owner of the Caperlan fishing brand, is set to nearly double its presence in Germany by 2027.

The French retailer, which has more than 2,000 sporting goods stores across the globe, is set to increase its number of branches in Germany from 86 to over 150. The dpa international news agency reports that the company aims to invest up to €100m in new store openings and modernisation of existing locations, creating thousands of new jobs.

Decathlon is planning to open two new stores this year and is considering expansion in other German cities such as Nuremberg, Freiburg, Rostock, Obershausen and the Kassel region.

Despite economic uncertainty and inflation, which have led many consumers to tighten their budgets, Decathlon sees an opportunity in the growing availability of vacant spaces in German city centres.