Sports Direct are in discussion with Dunnes Stores about a potential major expansion in Ireland according to a story published in the Sunday Times.
The suggestion is that Sports Direct could take over as many as seven prime locations currently traded by Dunes Stores in city centre locations.
These might include stores adjacent to the new flagship Sports Direct store on North Earl Street in Dublin, as well as in Cork and Waterford City Centres in locations close to other Dunes Stores which may be seen as surplus to their requirements.
Additional opportunities may arise from taking over premises left idle in town centres where Dunnes have moved to newer premises.
Sports Direct are currently a third player in the retail sports sector in Ireland behind Elverys and Lifestyle Sports, both of whom have invested significantly in their premises in recent years and have shown marked increase in profits.
Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley was interested in Elverys when it was in examinership in 2014 but was beaten to that deal by a management buy out at the time.
Sport for Business works with over 220 of Ireland’s leading organisations in sport and business. We regularly feature in depth looks at how members like Elverys Intersport, Lifestyle Sports and most of Ireland’s leading sporting organisations bring the relationship between sport and business to life. Here is a look at what we do…
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