Last Updated on 16th November 2021
JD Sports has acquired a minority stake in Gym King with a “multi-million-pound investment” to fast-track and promote the successful athleisure brand in USA, Europe, and Asia as part of an international expansion strategy.
This is great news for Jay Parker, who has been the sole owner since he set up the brand in 2015 and has single-handedly driven it’s success. JD Sports will bring a wealth of connections and open the right doors.
Parker said: “This strategic partnership will help Gym King capitalise on the huge opportunity ahead of us, becoming a world-renowned ‘lifestyle performance’ brand.
“Our core brand values – Mindset, Resilience & Community align perfectly with the JD business and consumer. We have continued to see impressive growth over the last 12 months with a focus on our own online, direct to consumer offering alongside our premium wholesale distribution to selected retail partners. The clear synergies with JD Sports will create a strong platform for accelerated growth.”
The move will no doubt see an increased presence for Gym King in JD sports stores, and become an in-house brand much like Kings Will Dream is for Footaslyum.
JD Sports Fashion executive chairman Peter Cowgill said: “We have long admired the Gym King business and have increasingly recognised its potential as we’ve worked together in recent years. Investing in Gym King was a natural follow on to strengthen our partnership and is testament to the work Jay and his team have put in over recent years. The future for Gym King has a great number of opportunities and we are delighted to be part of that journey.”
