Adidas to open regional flagship

Sportswear giant Adidas is expanding its retail presence with an increased focus on its own-brand stores to grow its share of the sportswear market, starting with the opening of its regional flagship in the Trinity shopping centre in Leeds.

The new 6,545 square foot outlet, which opens on August 16, will not only showcase the brands sport and fashion ranges, but will also be its first store to offer its Stella McCartney collaboration outside of London.

Until now, the Stella McCartney collection has only been available in the brand’s Oxford Street store and the Adidas by Stella McCartney standalone store on Fulham Road, London.

The Leeds store will be Adidas’ biggest outside of London and to create a unique retail experience nearly half of the Adidas Originals line will be exclusive to the store, along with new colourways of its ZX footwear range, and a specialist sports performance area catering for the city’s passion for football, rugby and also cycling ahead of the Tour de France coming to Yorkshire in 2014.

Adidas chooses Leeds for regional flagship

Rupert Campbell, retail director for Adidas UK said: “Leeds is the first step in an effort to increase our own-store growth and with its great football and rugby heritage, famous University and reputation as a UK fashion-hub; Leeds was the perfect place to start this.

“The arrival of our biggest store outside of London will provide new jobs and a unique adidas experience for the people of Leeds and this is something we hope to replicate elsewhere in the UK and are very proud of as a brand.”

The Leeds store will bring 34 new jobs to the city, and will be launched by Leeds United footballers Stephen Warnock and Lee Peltier, along with Leeds Rhinos stars Danny McGuire and Kevin Sinfield.

Currently, Adidas has six stores across London, Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool, and has plans to expand its presence across all major cities in the UK. Following the launch of the Trinity, Leeds store the brand will open an outlet in Newcastle before Christmas.

Image: Adidas by Stella McCartney