Castore
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Castore (ca-stor) | |
Company type | PLC |
Industry | Textile |
Founded | 6 July 2015Bebington, United Kingdom | in
Founders |
|
Headquarters | Manchester, England, UK[a][1][2] |
Number of locations | 7[3] (2022) |
Area served |
|
Products | |
Brands | AMC (Andy Murray Collection) [4] |
Number of employees | 400[5] (2020) |
Website | castore |
J. Carter Sporting Club Limited (operating as Castore) is a British manufacturer of sportswear and athletic clothing, headquartered in Manchester, England. The company's products are sold in more than 50 countries worldwide[6] and have sponsorship deals with association football teams, cricket teams, rugby union teams, Formula One teams, and tennis players.
History
The company was founded in 2015 by brothers Thomas (born September 1989) and Philip Beahon (born November 1992) when they were 25 and 22 years old respectively.[7] Tom had been a professional youth football player for Tranmere Rovers between the ages of 17 and 21 before spending time at Jerez Industrial in Spain and attending the Glenn Hoddle Academy.[7] Phil played semi-professional cricket for Cheshire and Lancashire cricket clubs.[7]
The pair left their playing careers in 2013 and moved to London to work in finance in an effort to raise money for their sportswear venture;[7] Tom worked at Lloyds Bank and Phil for Deloitte.[8] During their time in London they began their market research by interviewing patrons of high-end gymnasiums and signing up a number of prolific investors from the fashion and sporting industries.[7] Castore launched online in 2016.[7] In 2019 Forbes listed the pair in their "30 Under 30" list.[9]
Sponsorships
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Williams_Murray_wayout.jpg/170px-Williams_Murray_wayout.jpg)
2019
In January 2019, Castore became the official kit partner to British tennis champion Andy Murray, who also became a shareholder in the company in March of that year.[10] The company brands Murray's products as AMC, and it became the official apparel partner of the Lawn Tennis Association.[11] Marlie Packer, who plays for England's women's rugby union team, is a brand ambassador for Castore.[12] In December 2019, Cricket West Indies signed a three-year deal with Castore to produce their official kit.[13]
2020
In early 2020, Castore secured £7.5 million in funds from undisclosed private investors to help the company move into elite professional football.[14] In May 2020, Castore became the official kit supplier of Scottish Premiership club, Rangers on a five-year deal believed to be worth £25 million.[15][16]
2021
In May 2021, McLaren and Castore announced a multi-year deal for them to become the official team apparel and sportswear partner to the McLaren Formula One team.[17] In the same month, Castore signed a multi-year deal with Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers to become their new on-field partner. This partnership deviated from previous agreements held by the company, with Castore providing the playing staff with kits, while Wolves manufactured and distributed the replica kits under license.[18]
In June 2021, it was announced that rugby union side Saracens had agreed a five-year supply deal with Castore ahead of their return to Premiership Rugby in the 2021–22 season. The deal also included additional partnerships with Saracens' women's team and Saracens Mavericks netball team.[19] In July 2021, Castore signed a multi-year deal with Premier League club Newcastle United to become their new kit manufacturer.[20]
In September 2021, it was announced that the England and Wales Cricket Board had signed a ten-year deal with Castore worth £25 million to become the official kit supplier, starting from April 2022.[21] The same month Cricket South Africa signed a three-year deal with Castore to produce their official kit,[22] and in December Kent County Cricket Club announced it would partner with Castore as a technical partner beginning in the 2022 season.[23]
2022
Ahead of the 2022–23 season, Castore continued its expansion into professional football, announcing new partnerships with Premier League club Aston Villa,[24] English Football League clubs Charlton Athletic,[25] Milton Keynes Dons[26] and Salford City,[27] as well as La Liga club Sevilla,[28] Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen[29] and Serie B club Genoa.
2023
Ahead of the 2023 Formula One season, Red Bull Racing announced that they would be leaving Puma for Castore for the 2023 Formula One season.
Also from the 2023–24 football season in the Netherlands, Feyenoord announced that they will leave Adidas after 9 years for Castore.
And also starting the 2023 MotoGP season, Repsol Honda Team announced that will leave Alpinestars for Castore as the new official team apparel.
In April 2023 FC Twente announced to start with Castore for the 2023-2024 season.
Football
National teams
Club teams
Aston Villa[24]
Charlton Athletic[25]
Mansfield Town (from the 2023–24 season)
Milton Keynes Dons[26]
Newcastle United[20] (until the 2023–24 season)
Preston North End (from the 2023–24 season)
Salford City[27]
Wolverhampton Wanderers[18]
Bayer Leverkusen[29]
Genoa (until the 2022–23 season)
Feyenoord[30] (from the 2023–24 season)
FC Twente (from 2023–24 season)
FC Utrecht[31] (from 2023–24 season)
Sevilla[28]
Almería[32]
Athletic Club[33] (from the 2023–24 season)
Rangers[15]
Cricket
National teams
County teams
Cycling
Team Bahrain Victorious[34]
INEOS Grenadiers (from 2023 season)[35]
Golf
Motor Racing
Formula One
McLaren
Red Bull Racing (from 2023 season)
MotoGP
Repsol Honda Team (from 2023 season)
Netball
Rugby League
Rugby Union
National teams
Club teams
Saracens
Scarlets (from the 2022–2023 season)
Harlequins (from the 2022–2023 season)
Swimming
Taekwondo
Tennis
Events
Players
Ownership
As of August 2021[update], the company has 33 shareholders with the largest being the two founders, each with 18.59%, and Monte Group (Jersey) LTD[b] with 15%.[38] Other shareholders of the company include Robert Senior (former CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi), Tom Singh (founder of New Look), YOOX Net-a-Porter Group investor Arnaud Massenet, and tennis player Andy Murray.[10]
Footnotes
- ^ Between the inception of the business and mid-2021 the company headquarters were located in and around Liverpool, Merseyside.
- ^ Monte Group is an investment company owned by Mohsin and Zuber Issa of EG Group.[37]
References
- ^ "Registered office address changed". Companies House. Castore. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
- ^ "Terms and Conditions". Castore Sportswear. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ "Our Stores". Castore. Archived from the original on 2020-08-03. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
- ^ "The Andy Murray Collection". Castore. Archived from the original on 2020-08-03. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
- ^ "Total exemption full accounts made up to 31 January 2020". Companies House. J.Carter Sporting Club Limited. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ Houghton, Tom (2021-04-28). "Brothers set to take on the world with their luxury sportswear brand". Business Live. Retrieved 2021-08-21.
- ^ a b c d e f Gavin, Dearbhla (23 September 2019). "The young brothers who signed up Andy Murray". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2019-09-23. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ Houghton, Tom (2 January 2020). "The ex-athlete brothers who signed Andy Murray now taking on the world with luxury sportswear brand Castore". BusinessLive. Archived from the original on 2020-01-02. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ "Castore". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2021-07-19. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ a b Wightman-Stone, Danielle (7 March 2019). "Andy Murray becomes shareholder in sportswear brand Castore". FashionUnited. Archived from the original on 2019-12-02. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ "LTA enhance commercial programme with long-term AMC apparel deal". Lawn Tennis Association. 13 November 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-11-13. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- ^ Hardcastle, Jenny (20 May 2020). "Introducing England Rugby Player - Marlie Packer". Castore. Archived from the original on 2020-08-03. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ "CASTORE SPORTSWEAR: OFFICIAL KIT PARTNER FOR WI TEAMS". Cricket West Indies. 27 December 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ Imms, Katie (17 February 2020). "Castore secures £7.5m to support expansion". Drapers. Archived from the original on 2021-07-19. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
- ^ a b Moore, Joe (19 May 2020). "Castore co-founder Tom Beahon teases plans for new 2020/21 Rangers kits after signing £25million deal with Scottish Premiership giants". talkSPORT. Wireless Group. Archived from the original on 2020-05-27. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
- ^ Coleman, Joe (1 July 2020). "Rangers unveil new home kit designed by Castore for 2020/21 season with launch featuring emotional fan video". talkSPORT. Wireless Group. Archived from the original on 2020-12-19. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ "CASTORE BECOMES OFFICIAL TEAM APPAREL AND SPORTSWEAR PARTNER FOR THE McLAREN FORMULA 1 TEAM". McLaren. 4 May 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-05-04. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ a b "Castore unveiled as Wolves' on-field partner in landmark deal". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 21 May 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-05-21. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ Shapley, Oli (22 June 2021). "SARACENS AGREE MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH CASTORE AS NEW ERA BACK IN PREMIERSHIP BEGINS". Saracens F.C. Archived from the original on 2021-06-22. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
- ^ a b "Newcastle United announces Castore partnership". Newcastle United F.C. 2 July 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-07-02. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
- ^ "Castore confirmed as Official Kit Supplier to England Cricket". England and Wales Cricket Board. 13 September 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-09-14. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
- ^ "CSA WELCOMES CASTORE AS ITS OFFICIAL APPAREL PARTNER". Cricket South Africa. 30 September 2021. Archived from the original on 2022-01-03. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
- ^ "KENT CRICKET PARTNERS WITH CASTORE AHEAD OF 2022 SEASON". Kent Cricket. 14 December 2021. Archived from the original on 2022-01-02. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- ^ a b "Castore and Aston Villa sign landmark multi-year premier league partnership deal". Castore. 30 May 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ a b "Castore and Charlton Athletic announce multi-year partnership". Castore. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ a b "Castore Announce Latest Partnership With MK Dons". Castore. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ a b "Castore and Salford City announce new multi-year partnership". Castore. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ a b "Castore, A Bold And Ambitious Premium Sportswear Brand, Sign A Kit Deal With Sevilla FC". Castore. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ a b "Castore is new Bayer 04 kit partner until 2027". Castore. 10 February 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ "Feyenoord neemt afscheid van Adidas en kiest voor Castore" [Feyenoord says goodbye to Adidas and chooses Castore] (in Dutch). 27 January 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
- ^ "No More Nike: FC Utrecht Castore Deal Confirmed". Footy Headlines. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
- ^ Diario de Almería
- ^ Deia
- ^ "Castore announces multi-year partnership with Team Bahrain Victorious". castore.com. Retrieved 2022-05-06.
- ^ "Castore announces multi-year partnership with Team Bahrain Victorious". ineosgrenadiers.com. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
- ^ "Castore announce long-term deal with GB Taekwondo". Castore. 29 December 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2022.,
- ^ Robinson, Jon (19 May 2021). "Billionaire brothers 'take major stake' in sportswear brand Castore". Business Live. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
- ^ "Confirmation statement made on 8 August 2021 with updates". Companies House. J.Carter Sporting Club Limited. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.