Decathlon Targets Rs 1,000 Crore Running Sales in India over Four Years
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Decathlon Sports India expects its running business to generate more than Rs 1,000 crore in revenue over the next four years. Growth will come from larger store footprints and expanded domestic factory capacity.
The category currently generates just under Rs 500 crore. To double that across beginner and performance segments, the retailer is rolling out its dedicated running sub-brand Kiprun.
Chief executive Sankar Chatterjee said Indian sales are tracking slightly above double digits in the current fiscal year. Full-year accounts for the previous financial year will appear within a month. Those numbers will show high single-digit revenue growth and a profitable bottom line, building on the Rs 4,133.10 crore booked in FY25.
Expanding Store Network Beyond Metros
Physical store openings drive the company’s expansion across India. The chain currently runs 132 outlets in Indian cities. It plans to reach 200 stores by 2030, beginning with more than half a dozen locations opening next quarter.
Recent launches took the brand into northeast India with a first store in Guwahati, Assam. Wholesale and reseller deals in hubs such as Shillong run alongside direct retail units to reach shoppers outside tier-one cities.
Commercial landlords gain large-format anchor tenants in tier-two and tier-three hubs where organized retail space is expanding. These big-box sites pull steady crowds of hobbyists and fitness groups. That gives suburban malls consistent footfall that apparel-only shops often fail to deliver.
Footwear and Local Sourcing Investments
A 100 million euro capital expenditure program backs the retail rollout, funding local supply chain and production assets. Half of the stock sold across Indian stores this year is made locally. That is a sharp rise from single-digit shares during the chain’s early years in India.
“Those numbers will show high single-digit revenue growth and a profitable bottom line, building on the Rs 4,133.10 crore booked in FY25.”
Footwear manufacturing anchors the local sourcing plan. The business is hiring product managers, engineers, and technical staff to upgrade domestic shoe assembly standards and volume. These hires will prepare domestic suppliers for tighter technical specifications.
Domestic factory output will also feed export markets. Executives are tracking talks on the proposed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement. Lower tariffs under any deal would make Indian assembly lines competitive for supplying Decathlon stores across Europe.
Betting on Mass Participation Running
The Kiprun rollout places 35 running products on Indian shelves this year, including 17 performance shoe models. Offerings span road and trail running across basic price tiers and specialized marathon equipment.
Research from IMARC Group values India’s running gear sector at 2.7 billion dollars in 2026, rising from 2.5 billion dollars in 2025 and an estimated 4.9 billion dollars by 2034. Organized athletic events are driving this expansion. India hosted roughly 2,000 running fixtures in 2025, up from 500 to 600 in 2018.
Competitors are chasing the same market. Rivals such as Reliance Retail are opening competing formats and signing licensing deals with global activewear labels. Decathlon has ruled out multi-brand retailing for now. It keeps sales floors exclusive to proprietary labels to protect margins and pricing.
Supply Chain and Retail Competition Ahead
Execution risks and pricing pressure will test the strategy. Indian shoppers know the chain for affordable starter kit, but high-performance gear puts Kiprun directly against established running specialists such as Asics, Nike, and Puma.
Making technical running shoes requires complex tooling and component ecosystems that Indian factories are still building. Supply delays or defects in technical foam midsoles and carbon plates could turn away high-spending marathon runners.
Next quarter brings the first clear test of the strategy. The retailer will open its next batch of stores and publish full-year earnings, revealing how much profit it extracted from its Rs 4,133.10 crore baseline.
Questions & Answers
Q.What percentage of Decathlon's current revenue comes from its running business in India?
What percentage of Decathlon's current revenue comes from its running business in India?
The running category currently generates just under Rs 500 crore for Decathlon India. This is out of a baseline revenue of Rs 4,133.10 crore booked in the previous financial year, meaning it represents less than 12% of total sales.
Q.How does Decathlon plan to manage potential supply chain issues with its new high-performance running gear?
How does Decathlon plan to manage potential supply chain issues with its new high-performance running gear?
The article states that making technical running shoes requires complex tooling and component ecosystems that Indian factories are still building. Supply delays or defects in components like foam midsoles and carbon plates are noted as execution risks for the strategy.
Q.How will the proposed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement impact Decathlon's operations?
How will the proposed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement impact Decathlon's operations?
Executives are tracking talks for the agreement. If successful, lower tariffs under any deal would make Indian assembly lines competitive for supplying Decathlon stores across Europe, boosting the domestic factory output.
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