JD Sports

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JD Sports Fashion Plc
Type Limited (LSE: JD.)
Industry Retail
Founded 1981
Headquarters Bury, Greater Manchester
Key people Peter Cowgill, (Chairman)
Barry Bown, (CEO)
Products Clothing
sportswear
Footwear
Accessories
Revenue £883.7 million (2011)[1]
Operating income £0.99 (2011)[1]
Net income £55.9 million (2011)[1]
Parent Pentland Group
Website www.jdsports.co.uk

JD Sports Fashion plc, more commonly known as just JD, (LSE: JD.) is a sports-fashion retail company based in Bury, Greater Manchester, England with shops throughout the United Kingdom and with four in Ireland. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a former constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.

Contents

History[edit]

The letters JD in JD Sports stand for the initials of the founders of the company, John and David. The company was founded by John Wardle and David Makin in 1981 trading from a single shop in Bury.[2]

In 1983, the Company opened a store in the Arndale Centre in Manchester.[3] It opened its first store in Oxford Street in London in 1989 and was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1996.[3]

In 2002, it acquired nearly 200 further stores with the acquisition of First Sport from Blacks Leisure Group and in 2005 it bought 70 stores from the administrators of Allsports.[3]

In May 2005, Pentland Group bought Wardle's and Makin's shares for £44.6m; the pair later resigned from the board.[4]

In December 2007, the company bought out Bank Stores, which sells fashion clothing such as Firetrap, Alu, Henleys and Adidas Originals and the exclusive TFB collection by Tulisa among others, for around £19 million.[5]

In June and July 2008, JD Sports announced sponsorship deals with AFC Bournemouth, Charlton Athletic, Dundee United, Blackpool F.C, Luton Town and Oldham Athletic; these sponsorship deals allow certain clubs to use the Carbrini brand.[6]

2009 saw further expansion of the JD Group through the acquisition of Chausport which operates from 75 small stores in France. In addition, JD acquired the world famous rugby heritage brands 'Canterbury' and 'Canterbury of New Zealand' as well as 'The Duffer of St. George' and 'Kooga Rugby' brands.[7]

In January 2011, it was announced that JD Sports Fashion would buy Irish sports goods chain Champion Sports for €19.6 million, pending approval by the Irish Competition Authority.[8]

In January 2012, JD Sports purchased the troubled Blacks Leisure Group from administration for a total of £20 million.[9]

Brands[edit]

The following brands are stocked by JD Sports Fashion Plc:

Amongst many others in smaller quantities, JD also stocks ten exclusive brands:

  • McKenzie — Men's, Women's and Junior clothing and footwear
  • Carbrini Sportswear — Junior fashion clothing and soccer apparel
  • Animal — Men and Women's Surf clothing and footwear
  • Brookhaven — Men's and Women's clothing
  • Boxfresh — Men's Clothing
  • Rivington — Men's Clothing
  • O'Neill — Men and Women's Surf clothing and footwear
  • Pure and Simple Basics - Women's clothing
  • Frisk - New Women's clothing components

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Preliminary Results 2011
  2. ^ Stevenson, Rachel (7 July 2004). "JD Sports founder sells 11per cent stake to firm behind Speedo". London: Daily Telegraph. 
  3. ^ a b c "History". JD Sports. 
  4. ^ "JD Sports founders sell out for £44.6m". London: Times Online. 5 November 2007. 
  5. ^ "John David Group makes a Bank statement". Yorkshire Post. 11 December 2007. 
  6. ^ "Oldham Athletic announce JD Sports Carbrini sponsor deal". Football Shirt Culture. 6 August 2008. 
  7. ^ JD Sports Fashion History
  8. ^ Champion Sports to be bought by UK retailer for €19.6m The Irish Times, 26 January 2011
  9. ^ Blacks Leisure sold for £20m while La Senza finds buyer BBC News, 9 January 2012

External links[edit]

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