Decathlon Will Expand Stores and Logistics Center Across Germany

While many companies throughout Germany find ways to restructure themselves to thrive, one company is bucking the trend and actually expanding. Decathlon, a sporting good retail business, is set to open another 10 stores in Germany this year after opening 16 in 2019. This means the French company will have 90 locations come the end of 2020 if all pans out.

It was 35 years ago that Decathlon opened a store in Dortmund, Germany. Back then, the company’s plans were ambitious, but it found difficulty in adapting to the country’s preferences. It took 10 years to open more stores. Still, the French reviewed the German market and acquiesced to them before going ahead with their expansion efforts.

The largest of 10 Decathlon locations to be built in 2020 will be in Weiterstadt, which is about 30km south of Frankfurt. Other possible locations include Fulda, Hamburg-Langenhorn and Erding.

The company will also build its third logistics center in Berlin to support its Decathlon stores, which is noted as a centralized location for its stores.

Decathlon already has eight stores in the Berlin area and will construct a building complex complete with office space and warehouse in the VGP Park Berlin area. The construction will be carried out in two phases – the first being a 30,000km warehouse and offices and the second another 10,000 km warehouse space.