New Delhi, Jul 29 (PTI) French sporting goods retailer Decathlon will increase sourcing from India for its global operations to USD 3 billion by 2030, with a focused push in high-potential categories such as footwear, fitness equipment, and technical textiles.
Decathlon, which has been sourcing from India for the last 25 years, even before starting its retail operations, will focus on local production capabilities to serve both domestic and global markets, said the company officials here on Tuesday.
Currently, India accounts for 8 per cent of Decathlon's global sourcing quantities and by 2030, it plans to scale this to 15 per cent, said Frederic Merlevede, Head of Decathlon Production.
This growth will be driven by a focused push in high-potential categories such as footwear, fitness equipment, and technical textiles, which will be designed to meet the evolving demands of both Indian consumers and global markets.
"The country is evolving very positively. India has great capabilities in terms of volumes and abilities to produce categories of products we are looking for inside of the catalogue. We also have as well fantastic opportunity to grab is to help the Indian society go towards sports," said Merlevede.
Decthlon's local partners here are making right investments, from the component to manufacturing capabilities, and are ready to go for higher range products.
"India has evolved into a cornerstone of Decathlon's global production ecosystem — not just in terms of scale, but in its ability to deliver quality, innovation, and speed. Our long-term investment in India reflects the deep trust we've built with our partners and the strong potential we see in key categories like footwear, fitness equipment, and beyond," he said.
Currently, China is the leading supplier of Decathlon besides other countries such as Vietnam, Bangladesh, India and Europe.
When asked whether free trade agreement between India and the European Union, which is expected to be finalised this year, will help increase Decathlon's sourcing from India, Merlevede replied "Definitely".
"It can be an accelerator, because removing the duties on some categories of products for the European customers will have an additional advantage.
"Anyway, our target, with or without the FTA, is to grow from 8 per cent to 15 per cent (of global sourcing from India)," he said.
Deepak D'Souza, Head of Decathlon India Production, said in the last 25 years, the company has built a " strong, robust base" and has a very strong engagement with its suppliers and partners in India.
"We have been in retail in India for the last 15 years, but production in India started 25 years before. So I think that has given us a very big leverage in India, because we started production much before retailing in India," he said.
Decathlon has been sourcing products such as shoes, bicycles, tents, a badminton range of products, high-technology balls, accessories such as technical bags, metal products, and dumbbells, among others.
"In the last three to four years, we have diversified and the next five years, next future is more on the next range of product, like electronic products, like cricket, technical products like silicon, swimming wear, swimming goggles," he said.
Now cycling glasses are made in India but to produce a swimming goggle, a specific coating is required and is working with supplies to get into this.
"In the last three to five years, we have focused very strongly on nutrition products. So this is an area where we are accelerating. When you talk about nutrition, it's hydration drinks, it is energy you know, energy bars, energy gels. So this is a growing segment," he said D’Souza.
Last year, Decathlon had announced an investment of 100 million euros (around Rs 933 crore) in India, its one of the fastest growing markets, to expand retail footprint and manufacturing operations.