ZEIST, the Netherlands - The imbalance in the supply chain in combination with excess inventory made clear how untransparent the bicycle industry operates once again. For long-time Koga and Accell Netherlands manager Pieter Jan Rijpstra, this gave reason to launch an OEM trading platform for selling and buying excess inventory and missing components.
POZZOLEONO, Italy - To align the company's global OEM strategy, Selle Royal Group has decided to invest significantly in the North American market. To ensure successful expansion and better meet the needs of region, which is key to the group, it has appointed two dedicated OE sales managers already part of the Selle Royal Group team as territory managers for Highway 2: Chris Ballard and Patrick Gore.
WELS, Austria - As the momentum in Pierer Mobility AG's core motorbike markets in the US and Europe has slowed significantly in 2024, the Austrian two-wheeler giant announced the implementation of a comprehensive package of measures. It also includes a realignment of the bicycle division. Compared to 2023, the Austrians are now assuming a double-digit motorbike and e-bike sales drop.
HEERENVEEN, the Netherlands - The uncertain pace of the reorganization to restore its profit (EBITDA), the excess inventories in the market and weak consumer demand, and a deep-discount environment made Fitch Ratings decide to downgrade Accell Group from CCC to CCC-. According to the credit rating agency, "the weak operating performance, tight liquidity and negative free cash flow results in unsustainable credit metrics."
BERINGEN, Belgium - As a very well-known performance brand, Ridley Bikes has been visible in all top level road race competitions for the past two decades. Owner Belgian Cycling Factory, who also holds the labels Eddy Merckx and Corsa, is now building an international European organisation to capitalise on its successful business model.
Over the past few years, the Dutch bicycle brand Van Dijck has repeatedly made headlines with its cutting-edge e-bike technologies. To better respond to changing market conditions, the company recently revamped its business model and also changed its name to VanDijck Mobility.
FERNDALE, Canada - Founders Dan Gerhard and Jake Heilbron have purchased Kona Bikes back from Kent Outdoors, along with a team of dedicated, experienced Kona employees. Kent Outdoors had been looking for a new owner for some time and handed over the company back to the former owners for an undisclosed amount.
DRESDEN, Germany - Encouragement can be found in German e-commerce bike, running and swimming sports retailer Bike24 Holding AG's first quarter results. Here, an expected return to growth with improved profitability as well as an impressive growth in Bike24's relatively young Benelux country markets can be seen.
WICKEDE, Germany - The bicycle industry knows many innovative companies which often remain hidden from the general public. In Germany, the South Westphalia Chamber of Commerce puts these companies in the spotlight and has recognised 165 of these hidden champions. One of them is Wilhelm Humpert GmbH & Co. KG.
MALLABIA, Spain - The turbulent 2023 market conditions with instability, excess supply and widespread discounting among competitors that deteriorated margins and, in some cases, questioned the sustainability of business, writes Orbea in its annual report. For Orbea the market situation resulted in a 6.4% decrease in turnover.
