Decathlon has announced that it will hire 2,500 new employees in India and commit €100 million to expansion and operations in the country.
The investment is set to be deployed over the coming years as part of Decathlon’s plan to deepen its retail presence, expand manufacturing, and bolster supply-chain and logistics infrastructure across India.
📈 What Decathlon Plans to Do With the Investment
- Expand its retail footprint: Decathlon aims to increase its store network substantially — targeting a total of around 190 stores spread over 90-plus cities in India over the next few years.
- Strengthen local manufacturing: A portion of the funds will go into ramping up “Make-in-India” manufacturing — enabling Decathlon to produce more locally instead of relying on imports.
- Improve omni-channel presence & supply chain: The expansion also targets better logistics, warehousing, and digital channels (online + offline integration), making sporting goods more accessible across urban, tier-2, tier-3 and smaller towns.
🌍 Why This Move Matters — For Decathlon and India
- For Decathlon: India is emerging as a key growth engine. The company is betting on rising demand for affordable sports & fitness gear as more Indians adopt active lifestyles. The €100 M injection and hiring indicate strong long-term commitment.
- For “Make in India” push: By expanding local manufacturing, Decathlon’s plans align with India’s broader push to boost domestic production and reduce reliance on imports — potentially creating many jobs and supporting local suppliers.
- For consumers across the country: With more stores, better availability, and local sourcing, sporting goods are likely to become more affordable and accessible, including in smaller towns and cities.
- For employment & economy: Hiring 2,500 directly — plus many more indirectly through local manufacturing and supply-chain — can provide substantial employment opportunities and economic activity.
🔭 What to Watch Next
- How quickly Decathlon ramps up hiring and whether the new workforce will be spread across retail, manufacturing, logistics or management.
- Expansion speed: how many new stores open over the next 2–3 years, and in which cities or towns (metro, tier-2, tier-3).
- Impact on pricing and product availability — whether local manufacturing leads to lower prices and improved supply for customers in India.
- Broader supply-chain & sourcing shifts — e.g. how much more of Decathlon’s global sourcing will come from India, and if India becomes a global manufacturing hub for the brand.
