The French group “finds that the supply conditions are no longer met to continue its activity in Russia”.
The French company specializing in sporting goods Decathlon, under pressure since the start of the war in Ukraine, announced in a press release on Tuesday the suspension of its activities in Russia, due to supply problems. “Scrupulously respecting international sanctions, Decathlon notes that the supply conditions are no longer met to continue its activity in Russia. Decathlon is forced to suspend the operation of its stores“, writes in its press release the sign of the Mulliez galaxy.
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Decathlon is one of the three brands of the Mulliez family association to be active in Russia, along with Auchan and Leroy Merlin, which continue their activity there. The three brands have been the target of criticism in recent days because of their stated desire to stay in Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had notably asked on March 24 before the French Parliament to “Renault, Auchan, Leroy Merlin and others” from “stop sponsoring Russia’s war machine»In Ukraine.
Present in Russia since 2006
Decathlon has been present in Russia since 2006 with 60 stores and an e-commerce site in 25 Russian cities. The brand is notably present in the Moscow region, where 22 of its stores are located. “We will continue to support our 2,500 Russian teammates“, she assures in her press release. The suspension of activities had been announced at the end of the morning via an email to employees, in which the company specifies that it is “unable to maintain 92% of (its) supply” in Russia because of “international sanctions».
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Also present in Ukraine, Decathlon announced at the end of February that it hadgelé“his activity on the spot, “in the logic of not exposing“its approximately 125 employees on site”to a situation that does not fully guarantee their safety“. It operates four stores there as well as an online sales site. The brand emphasizes in its press release that a “solidarity cell» based in Poland has centralized its donations to local NGOs, for a total amount of 2.6 million euros. She also announces that she hasset up a solidarity fundendowed with one million euros in order tosupport affected populations».