Oyxlane, the French parent company of Decathlon, reported sales increased 6.1 percent in 2013 to €7.4 billion ($9.8 bn) in 2013 on comparable store sales growth of 1.3 percent.
Sales had risen 7.2 percent to €7.0 billion in 2012 on 1.3 percent comp store sales growth.
The company opened 74 new Decathlon stores during the year, compared with 58 in 2012 with 25 of those coming in China, 6 in India, 4 in Russia and 2 in Brazil. At year end, 723 Decathlon stores were operating in 20 countries, making Decathlon the largest sporting goods banner in the world.
Decathlon's top five market by number of stores were France, 258; Spain, 100; Italy, 89; China, 80 (including 4 in Taiwan); and 33 in Poland.
Decathlon celebrated its 10 year anniversary in China and opened its first store in Bulgaria during the year. It also launched Open Oxylane, an online collaboration tools where consumers can propose ideas for new sporting goods products and vote on price, features, packaging and other aspects of new products.
"Sports enthusiasts play an active role in improving their game," said Vincent Textoris, manager of Open Oxylane. "The future unbreakable ping-pong ball or the football that comes back on its own to the middle of the pitch may one day become a reality thanks to Open Oxylane."
