Manchester backpack brand chosen by F1 racing team
A backpack brand created by two Manchester brothers has been chosen as an official supplier to the Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN team, competing in the 2020 Formula One Championship.
Built for Athletes was formed in 2018 after founder Nick Costello became frustrated at being unable to find a suitable backpack to hold gym equipment.
The brand has reached more than £1m of sales in just two years.
It will now supply the Hero Backpack to racing drivers Kimi Räikkönen and Antonio Giovinazzi, as well as all team personnel as they take on the 2020 championship in 22 locations around the globe.
Frédéric Vasseur, team principal Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN and CEO Sauber Motorsport AG, said: “We are delighted to welcome Built for Athletes to our family and we can’t wait to go racing together.
“Our sport takes us all around the world, often in tough environmental conditions – we need a backpack that is reliable, strong, while also stylish, and the Hero backpack fits the bill perfectly.”
Chief executive Nick Costello said: “We’re delighted to join forces with one of the most historic racing teams on the grid and become the official backpack supplier of Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN for the 2020 season.
“Our functional, hard-wearing and stylish 45L Hero backpack is trusted by a host of fitness industry experts and elite athletes and we’re excited to add the mechanics, engineers, management team and of course drivers Kimi and Antonio to that list.”
The backpack supplied to the Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN team was created following months of testing and re-designing during 2018.
Fast forward a year and the brand has shipped thousands of the backpacks worldwide, increased its product range and has seen turnover increase from six figures to seven figures year-on-year.
Trusted by fitness industry experts and elite athletes, the best in class fitness backpack won numerous best buy award titles in respected fitness magazines during 2019, leading to Built for Athletes creating a smaller version of the product, as well as increasing its product range.
