FRASERS GROUP EXPANDS SPECIALTY RETAIL FOOTPRINT WITH ACQUISITION OF GLASGOW’S GREAVES SPORTS

Frasers Group, the UK retail giant and parent company of Sports Direct, has announced the acquisition of Greaves Sports, bringing one of the country’s oldest independent sports outfitters into its growing commercial portfolio.

Aggressive International and UK Expansion

The deal further consolidates Frasers Group’s presence in the specialty sports and fashion sectors, adding Greaves Sports to a growing roster of brands that already includes Sports Direct, Flannels, Game, Evans Cycles, and USC.

The acquisition caps an intense 18-month period of strategic expansion for Frasers Group across the UK and international markets:

• European Retail Expansion: The group recently acquired majority stakes in both the Italian multisport retailer Maxi Sport and the Norwegian sporting goods chain XXL.

• Real Estate and Outlets: Frasers has continued to build out its physical footprint by taking over several UK fashion outlets and major shopping centers.

• Luxury Moves: The conglomerate has actively pursued high-end fashion deals, including making a formal bid to acquire luxury clothing label Hugo Boss.

The acquisition includes Greaves Sports' flagship six-story location at 23 Gordon Street in central Glasgow. Spanning over 30,000 square feet—including 15,000 square feet of dedicated retail selling space—the store has served as a cornerstone of Scottish sports retail since its founding in the 1930s. The transaction also encompasses the retailer’s digital e-commerce business.

Greaves is Scotland's - and one of the UK's - oldest independent sports retailers with a history dating back to the 1930s.

The business began as the Clydesdale Rubber Company in the 1930s, selling - among other things - Wellington boots and sheepskin coats. The business survived the difficult 1930s and 40s and in the 1950s, the third generation of the family business, brothers Jim and Bill Greaves, presided over a change of direction which would see this small rubber company grow into one of the best known multi-sports department stores in the UK.

In 1959, Jim and Bill took over their main city rival, Lumley’s in a bold buy-out which saw them double their presence in Glasgow. Diversifying into the sports trade and becoming synonymous with winter sports, Jim and Bill rebranded the Clydesdale Rubber Company as Greaves Sports in 1967.

As more and more rival sports stores swapped out sports gear for leisure wear, Greaves soon became one of the country’s last true multi-sports department stores standing.

Over the years Greaves can count a number of celebrities as customers with the like of Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra paying a visit to the sports store for golf clubs in the 1950s to Samuel L Jackson and Eminem visiting the shop while touring in the UK.

Brand Continuity and Customer Assurances

In a statement, Greaves Sports sought to reassure customers that the Gordon Street store and its online operation will continue under the Greaves Sports brand, maintaining the same level of service and expertise the company says it has built over nearly a century. The company also confirmed that existing gift cards and loyalty points will remain valid following the ownership change.

“We can reassure our customers that our Gordon Street store and online store will remain under the Greaves Sports brand you know, with the same levels of service and expertise we’ve strived to provide for nearly 100 years,” Greaves Sports stated.

“We continue to ensure our customers, new and old, are unaffected by these developments. Whether you’re browsing our huge range of products and sport-specialist services online, or visiting our friendly staff at our Glasgow store, the Greaves brand of friendly, expert advice will continue.”

The retailer also confirmed that all existing loyalty points and outstanding gift cards will be honored without interruption.