Major growth for Fanatics after Kitbag purchase
FANATICS, the licensed sports products retailer, has recorded more than 100% growth in the sale of US sports merchandise across Europe and major growth in football in the US since acquiring the Manchester-based Kitbag brand.
Fanatics International, the company’s Manchester-based international division, still operates Kitbag.com but was rebranded to Fanatics following its £11.5m sale to the $1bn turnover group by listed home shopping and education supplies company Findel last February.
The company said its growth figures re-enforce its confidence in growing both the European and US sports merchandise markets.
In specific event markets, sales for a period before and including the Super Bowl showed a year-on-year growth of 149% while the Super Bowl itself, in which New England Patriots beat the Atlanta Falcons, created a 333% rise in sales for Fanatics’ international market.
Football (soccer) merchandise grew by more than 60% across North America in the first year as interest in English and European clubs continued to expand.
The company has also announced that its international president and former Manchester United commercial director Andy Anson is leaving to take up a position with Teneo Holdings.
The company said its plans for future development are unaffected by the move with Ed Boardman, a long-standing member of the executive team in Manchester, taking over interim responsibilities as the company looks to find a new president.
Fanatics International, which employs 500 staff, will also move to new premises in Manchester by May as the company expands.
