Matalan axes Sporting Pro venture

DISCOUNT fashion and homewares chain Matalan has axed its stand-alone sports concept Sporting Pro.

Tom Knight, the sports retailer sector veteran who was leading the venture, left in May, TheBusinessDesk understands.

Matalan, is headquartered in Knowsley, Liverpool, launched Sporting Pro in 2013 and had ambitions to open up to 100 stores in five years.

Matalan managing director Jason Hargreaves told the fashion title Drapers the retailer will now focus its own label sports brand Souluxe, including the launch of shop-in-shops for the label.

“We are phasing [Sporting Pro] out and closing the standalone stores and expanding own label sports within Matalan under the brand Souluxe across menswear, womenswear and kidswear,” he said.

Wigan-based DW Sports is said to be looking at taking over five of the 15 stores that were opened.