// Sports Direct calls for probe into Nike & Adidas’ dominance
// Adidas has blocked Sports Direct from selling some of its products
// Nike is reportedly planning to end supply agreements with independent retailers over the next 2 years
Sports Direct has called for an investigation on Adidas and Nike after complaining about the retailers’ dominance.
The sports goods retailer, owned by Mike Ashley, said the “must-have” retailers hold a bargaining position which allows them to control the supply and the price of their products.
Adidas has blocked Sports Direct from selling some of its products, Sports Direct said.
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“Sports Direct believes that the industry as a whole would benefit from a wide market review by the appropriate authorities in both the UK and Europe,” it said in a statement.
In 2013, Adidas withdrew replica Chelsea shirts from Sports Direct stores, which added to Ashley’s woes at the time.
Sports Direct said the dominance of Nike and Adidas allows them to “refuse to supply key products with no apparent justification”.
The news follows The Sunday Times‘ report which revealed that Nike was planning to end its supply agreements with independent retailers over the next two years as it focuses efforts on its direct-to-consumer division.
Moreover, Sports Direct complained last month that JD Sports’ planned £90 million takeover of Footasylum could reduce Ashley’s access to the top brands.
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