Scott Sports acquires Garmont North America, merges U.S. ski and footwear operations
Scott Sports announced Wednesday that it is taking over Garmont's North American outdoor footwear and ski operations.
Get access to everything we publish when you sign up for Outside+.
Scott Sports announced Wednesday that it is taking over Garmont‘s North American outdoor footwear and ski operations.
Italy-based Garmont will retain control of its outdoor footwear and ski business in Europe.
The deal in North America will strengthen Scott’s wintersports portfolio, adding Garmont’s line of ski boots to Scott’s line of skis and bindings. Garmont’s line of hiking, winter and mountain shoes will compliment Scott’s running and biking footwear with and boots.
Garmont North America will remain in Portland, Ore. for the time being, merging with Scott’s footwear offices there. The business would eventually stay in Portland or move to Scott USA’s sales office in Salt Lake City or its distribution office in Ogden, Utah, Scott U.S. Manager Adam Greene told SNEWS in an exclusive first interview.
“Over time we plan to consolidate all those operations in one of the three locations,” he said. Scott USA will remain headquartered in Sun Valley, Idaho, although the company is growing its sales offices in Salt Lake City. Scott’s global corporate headquarters are based in Switzerland.
The deal also brings the North American distribution of Life-Link (winter safety equipment) and Bridgedale Socks to Scott USA, which were previously operated by Garmont North America.
For all the acquired brands and businesses involved in the deal, “all preseason orders will be honored and shipped per the terms of dealer agreements,” Greene said.
Scott is best known globally for its biking equipment, apparel and accessory products. About 70 percent of its sales come from that category, Greene said. Scott also has a motorsports category. The goal for the company moving ahead is to become a year-round business, Greene said, with particular aim to grow both wintersports and outdoor.
For Garmont, word of a possible changes in the United States had been rumored since last summer. More solid evidence came last week, following the departure of its North American President David Fee, who announced his return to Yakima.
