Global activewear brand JD Sports will relocate its Sydney distribution centre (DC) in 2024 to a new and expanded site, following double-digit growth in the region.
JD Sports confirmed the move would create sufficient capacity for the next stage of expansion, as the company reported a 22% revenue lift in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region to £230.9 million (AU$439.22 million).
“Organic sales growth was also 26% with all countries in growth including Australia, our principal market in the region,” the company noted in a recent trading update.
JD Sports’ operating profit in the APAC region was up 4% to £32.4 million, and ended its 2023 half-year trading period with four less stores to now 84 across the region. This includes 51 across Australia.
“We opened four stores in the period, and in August 2023 we have subsequently opened a new flagship store on Pitt Street in Sydney which is Australia’s prime retail destination,” JD Sports’ noted. “This store achieved our best-ever opening day for a new store globally.”
In store portfolio size, JD Sports’ APAC region is the smallest, followed by the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland at 448 stores, Europe at 474 stores, and North America at 969 stores.
The company reported total revenue of $4.5 billion for the first half of 2023 to July 29.