Accell Group N.V. reported its North American bikes sales grew 4 percent in 2014 as sales to multi-sports retailers grew, while sales to independent bicycle dealers, or IBDs, lagged expectations and declined.
Sales of electric bikes only saw a modest increase, despite a major launch kicked off at the Sea Otter Classic in April that featured e-bikes from its Haibike and LaPierre brands. Accell North American introduced e-bikes from its Raleigh brand later in the year.
German made Haibike E-mountain bikes won the E-Bike of the Year Award at the Interbike international bicycle trade fair, held in September 2014 in the United States.
Accell Group's total next sales came in at € 882.4 million, up 4 percent compared with € 849.0 million in 2013. Turnover increased by 8 percent organically, largely driven by higher electric bike sales. Net profit reached € 26.1 million in 2014, a rise of 37 percent from the € 19.0 million reported in 2013. The operating result (excluding exceptional items) came in at € 44.3 million in 2014, compared with € 36.9 million in 2013.
The Dutch company said sales by its entire Bicycle segment increased 5 percent to € 658.1 million in 2014 (2013: € 626.0 million). Organic sales grew 10 percent with the largest increase coming in its home market of the Netherlands (+12 percent). Sales of electric bikes grew 23 percent higher and accounted for 41 percent (2013: 35 percent) of Accell Group’s overall turnover in the bicycle segment.
Turnover in sports bikes declined by 6 percent, due to the termination of deliveries to the mass market in the United States. Turnover in traditional bikes remained stable. The number of bicycles sold amounted to 1,725,000 (2013: 1,835,000). Operating income at the Bicycle segment increased 16 percent to € 46.0 million.
