RunningXpert, the leading Nordic running specialist, becomes a part of WeSports
RunningXpert is a Danish running specialist operating the stores Løbeshop.dk, Löparshop.se and RunningXpert.com. They are the leading running specialists in the Nordic region with 35 MEUR turnover in 2022. WeSports has acquired a holding stake in the company and established a long-term partnership with the founding family and management with the vision of becoming Europe's preferred running specialist online.
“We are impressed with how RunningXpert has built a modern specialist retailer by engaging the running community digitally on Youtube, social media, and through their own running destinations online. They excel in connecting with the sports performance community through their premium, inspirational, and informative videos and content. This partnership is a big step in our journey to becoming the number one European performance sports specialist” says Martin Appelfeldt, CEO of WeSports
RunningXpert currently serves over 1 million active runners with a dedicated team of 70 employees, many of whom are former or current top running athletes.
The acquisition will enable WeSports to further strengthen the position in its Running & Outdoor segment across Europe, as RunningXpert has a significant customer base in Denmark and in continental Europe, while WeSports has a very strong presence in the other Nordic countries. As a result, this partnership is anticipated to significantly boost the organic growth of the group in total.
The partnership also significantly improves WeSports customer offering in the upcoming relaunch of Keller Sports, which was one of Europe’s premier running-, outdoor- and fitness gear specialists in Europe before facing financial difficulties in the wake of the pandemic in 2022. WeSports acquired the assets of Keller Sports earlier this year and plans to relaunch Keller Sports before the end of 2023. RunningXpert will play a vital role and take a large responsibility in the Keller Sports venture.
Keller Sports is poised to becoming one of the most prominent sports performance initiatives in Europe from 2023 to 2027. This extensive new sports destination is built on a novel customer concept, where the best sports specialists within their respective fields work collaboratively to establish a unified European leader within performance sports.
"As a sports specialist performance retailer like us, there is typically one expert in different skill areas such as video content, marketing, paid search, etc., and they can be hard to retain because they are not part of a professional sparring environment. But since WeSports operates 20 sport specialist organizations, my marketing manager in Hadsten now gets 20 other marketing managers as colleagues, and so do I as CEO. The way forward is to join forces with other specialists" comments Ivan Jaeger Christiansen, CEO of RunningXpert
About RunningXpert
RunningXpert is a Danish running specialist store based in Aarhus. The family owned company, founded in 2005 by Jonas Mørkøre Andersen, operates a leading running performance specialist under the brands Løbeshop.dk, Löparshop.se and RunningXpert.com with presence in 18 European countries.
Runners spend 700 hours daily, 16 000 views on it’s running articles and 88 000 monthly youtube views. It’s one of Europe's most engaging running channels and knowledge power house targeted at common runners to the elite running community.
The company had a turnover of 35 MEUR in 2022 and are seeing a healthy development 2023 despite the tough market conditions.
About WeSports
WeSports is a Nordic sports performance category expert group. WeSports are the leading Nordic specialist in four performance segments. Running & Outdoor, Bikes & Mobility, Fitness & Nutrition and Team sports. WeSports address the elite athlete and sport and healthy lifestyle enthusiasts, trough physical and online stores.
WeSports acquires and develops performance sport & leisure equipment specialists and let them operate freely in a decentralized structure on the back of a common infrastructure. At WeSports they believe that the entrepreneurial spirit is key to success and therefore all their brands are run by entrepreneurs and local teams, supported by WeSports in areas of their choosing.
The group had a proforma turnover of 2,3 bSEK in 2022. The group has continued to show a healthy organic growth in 2023 with profitability and healthy finances. The Running & Outdoor segment accounts for ca 25% of the groups turnover.
Contacts
Martin Appelfeldt
CEO WeSports Scandinavia AB
+46 702-898815
martin.appelfeldt@wesportsgroup.com
Ivan Jaeger Christiansen
CEO RunningXpert AS
+45 23 83 63 22
ijc@loebeshop.dk