Chinese telecommunication giant Huawei Technologies Co has suspended downloads of sportswear brands Nike and Adidas from its app store amid the Xinjiang cotton controversy.

Anger with Nike Inc and Adidas erupted on Chinese social media late on Wednesday after China's netizens spotted a statement from the former&nbsp;saying it was "concerned" about reports of forced labour in Xinjiang and that it does not use cotton from the region.

Topics around the Nike statement were among the highest trending on China's Twitter-like social media Weibo on Thursday, and the social media backlash had a wider fallout.

Since then, although the Chinese government has not singled out any particular company, a nationwide consumer boycott against foreign brands -- including H&amp;M, Nike, Adidas and Burberry -- has swept the country.

To this end, on Monday morning, Nike and Adidas apps on Huawei’s app store were not available to download.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-nike-faces-social-media-storm-in-china-over-xinjiang-statement-372985">Also read |&nbsp;Nike faces social media storm in China over Xinjiang statement</a>

As of Monday, however, the brands could still be found on major Chinese e-commerce platforms such as Taobao, JD.com and Pinduoduo. And consumer demand continued to be on the higher side.

The brands’ social media accounts are still accessible, along with the Chinese version of its website.

Swedish retailer H&amp;M was one of the hardest-hit brands in the Xinjiang boycott. A number of major Chinese tech firms have erased the clothing company’s virtual presence from their platforms.

The social media fallout comes as relations between the United States and China have deteriorated in recent years.

In the latest development, the United States, the European Union, Britain and Canada on Monday imposed sanctions on Chinese officials for alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang. China retaliated with sanctions on European lawmakers and institutions.

(with inputs)

Chinese telecommunication giant Huawei Technologies Co has suspended downloads of sportswear brands Nike and Adidas from its app store amid the Xinjiang cotton controversy.

Chinese telecommunication giant Huawei Technologies Co has suspended downloads of sportswear brands Nike and Adidas from its app store amid the Xinjiang cotton controversy. Anger with Nike Inc and Adidas erupted on Chinese social media late on Wednesday after China's netizens spotted a statement from the former saying it was "concerned" about reports of forced labour in Xinjiang and that it does not use cotton from the region. Topics around the Nike statement were among the highest trending on China's Twitter-like social media Weibo on Thursday, and the social media backlash had a wider fallout. Since then, although the Chinese government has not singled out any particular company, a nationwide consumer boycott against foreign brands -- including H&M, Nike, Adidas and Burberry -- has swept the country. To this end, on Monday morning, Nike and Adidas apps on Huawei’s app store were not available to download. Also read | Nike faces social media storm in China over Xinjiang statement As of Monday, however, the brands could still be found on major Chinese e-commerce platforms such as Taobao, JD.com and Pinduoduo. And consumer demand continued to be on the higher side. The brands’ social media accounts are still accessible, along with the Chinese version of its website. Swedish retailer H&M was one of the hardest-hit brands in the Xinjiang boycott. A number of major Chinese tech firms have erased the clothing company’s virtual presence from their platforms. The social media fallout comes as relations between the United States and China have deteriorated in recent years. In the latest development, the United States, the European Union, Britain and Canada on Monday imposed sanctions on Chinese officials for alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang. China retaliated with sanctions on European lawmakers and institutions. (with inputs)

Huawei removes Nike and Adidas from its app store amid Xinjiang row

Several brands have come under attack on Chinese social media over the past comments they&nbsp;have made about labour conditions in Xinjiang, part of a diplomatic row between China and the West.

Nike and&nbsp;Adidas&nbsp;were the latest caught up in a backlash prompted by a Chinese government call to stop foreign brands from tainting China's name as internet users found statements they had made in the past on Xinjiang.

Some internet users said they would stop buying Nike and will support local brands such as Li Ning and Anta, while others told Adidas to leave China.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uighur-muslims-protest-against-treatment-amid-chinese-foreign-ministers-visit-373092" hreflang="en">Uighur Muslims protest against treatment amid Chinese foreign minister's visit</a>

Activists and U.N. experts say that more than 1 million Muslim&nbsp;Uighurs and other Turkic Muslims are being held against their will in harsh camps in the remote western region.

Chinese state media had singled out H&amp;M on Wednesday over a statement reported last year where the Swedish fashion retailer said it was deeply concerned by reports of accusations of forced labour in Xinjiang, and that it did not source products from the Chinese region.

However, there are&nbsp;still some brands that are yet to raise their voices against&nbsp;China's human rights abuses. These include 83 brands which are&nbsp;directly or indirectly benefiting from China's&nbsp;abusive labour programs.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-china-targets-nike-and-hm-over-ban-on-xinjiang-cotton-373202">Watch |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-china-targets-nike-and-hm-over-ban-on-xinjiang-cotton-373202/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

These brands include,&nbsp;Abercombie &amp; fitch,&nbsp;Acer,&nbsp;Adidas, Puma, Lacoste, Tommy Hilfiger, Skechers, Panasonic, Amazon, Apple and Microsoft. This data is based on supplier lists, media reports&nbsp;and details of claimed suppliers by respective factories.

According to report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute,&nbsp;more than 80,000 Uighurs were transfered out of Xinjiang between 2017 and 2019.

They were&nbsp;were sent to factories far away from home, forced to live in segregated dormitories as well as undergo&nbsp;lessons in mandarin and ideological training.

In these factories, they are&nbsp;subjected to constant surveillance and are&nbsp;are forbidden from celebrating their festivals. If&nbsp;they refuse to comply, the&nbsp;they are sent to detention camps.

The report states&nbsp;that 27 factories in 9 Chinese provinces&nbsp;are part of this abusive labour program.

In July 2020, Adidas and Lacoste pledged to cut down on forced labour supply chains. While in November, Apple was lobbying against a bill to stop companies benefiting from forced labour.

Several brands have come under attack on Chinese social media over the past comments they have made about labour conditions in Xinjiang, part of a diplomatic row between China and the West.

Several brands have come under attack on Chinese social media over the past comments they have made about labour conditions in Xinjiang, part of a diplomatic row between China and the West. Nike and Adidas were the latest caught up in a backlash prompted by a Chinese government call to stop foreign brands from tainting China's name as internet users found statements they had made in the past on Xinjiang. Some internet users said they would stop buying Nike and will support local brands such as Li Ning and Anta, while others told Adidas to leave China. Also read| Uighur Muslims protest against treatment amid Chinese foreign minister's visit Activists and U.N. experts say that more than 1 million Muslim Uighurs and other Turkic Muslims are being held against their will in harsh camps in the remote western region. Chinese state media had singled out H&M on Wednesday over a statement reported last year where the Swedish fashion retailer said it was deeply concerned by reports of accusations of forced labour in Xinjiang, and that it did not source products from the Chinese region. However, there are still some brands that are yet to raise their voices against China's human rights abuses. These include 83 brands which are directly or indirectly benefiting from China's abusive labour programs. Watch | These brands include, Abercombie & fitch, Acer, Adidas, Puma, Lacoste, Tommy Hilfiger, Skechers, Panasonic, Amazon, Apple and Microsoft. This data is based on supplier lists, media reports and details of claimed suppliers by respective factories. According to report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, more than 80,000 Uighurs were transfered out of Xinjiang between 2017 and 2019. They were were sent to factories far away from home, forced to live in segregated dormitories as well as undergo lessons in mandarin and ideological training. In these factories, they are subjected to constant surveillance and are are forbidden from celebrating their festivals. If they refuse to comply, the they are sent to detention camps. The report states that 27 factories in 9 Chinese provinces are part of this abusive labour program. In July 2020, Adidas and Lacoste pledged to cut down on forced labour supply chains. While in November, Apple was lobbying against a bill to stop companies benefiting from forced labour.

Which foreign brands are feeding China's slave camps in Xinjiang

The German company had acquired Boston-based Reebok in 2006 hoping that it could take on US rival Nike.

Adidas To Sell-off Long-struggling Reebok

Watch today in 'World Business Watch': German multinational corporation Adidas is planning to sell its Reebok division, according to reports and Germany's Manager Magazin.

World Business Watch: Reports claim that Adidas plans to sell its Reebok division

Kanye West always lets the world know his problems. The Billionaire mogul&nbsp;in his latest tweet called out Gap and Adidas for not giving him a board seat. 
 
West took to Twitter handle, Kanye wrote, ''I don't have a board seat at GAP and I don't have a board seat at Adidas...BlackBoard seat matters''.&nbsp;

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I DONT HAVE A BOARD SEAT AT GAP I DONT HAVE A BOARD SEAT AT ADIDAS ... BLACK BOARD SEATS MATTER
— ye (@kanyewest) <a href="https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/1304117674402775049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2020</a></blockquote>
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West has a&nbsp;Yeezy fashion line with Adidas and recently signed a 10-year deal with Gap. This isn't the first time when Kanye called out the multimillion-dollar companies. 
 
Earlier, during his presidential rally, he threatened to 'walk away' from both companies unless he was given a board seat. ''In risk or no risk of losing whatever deal possible, I am not on the board at Adidas. I am not on the board at Gap,''&nbsp;West said in July. ''And that has to change today, or I walk away.'' 
 
Both the companies haven't responded to West tweet yet. After George Floyd's death, companies are facing backlash for having diversity problems.&nbsp;Black directors accounted for only about 10 percent of new board seats in 2019. 
 
According to Forbes, the rapper is one of the highest-paid celebrities of 2019-20, he officially became a billionaire this past April, largely due in part to his successful fashion and sneaker line.&nbsp;

Kanye West always lets the world know his problems. The Billionaire mogul in his latest tweet called out Gap and Adidas for not giving him a board seat. West took to Twitter handle, Kanye wrote, ''I don't have a board seat at GAP and I don't have a board seat at Adidas.

Kanye West always lets the world know his problems. The Billionaire mogul in his latest tweet called out Gap and Adidas for not giving him a board seat. West took to Twitter handle, Kanye wrote, ''I don't have a board seat at GAP and I don't have a board seat at Adidas...BlackBoard seat matters''. I DONT HAVE A BOARD SEAT AT GAP I DONT HAVE A BOARD SEAT AT ADIDAS ... BLACK BOARD SEATS MATTER — ye (@kanyewest) September 10, 2020 × West has a Yeezy fashion line with Adidas and recently signed a 10-year deal with Gap. This isn't the first time when Kanye called out the multimillion-dollar companies. Earlier, during his presidential rally, he threatened to 'walk away' from both companies unless he was given a board seat. ''In risk or no risk of losing whatever deal possible, I am not on the board at Adidas. I am not on the board at Gap,'' West said in July. ''And that has to change today, or I walk away.'' Both the companies haven't responded to West tweet yet. After George Floyd's death, companies are facing backlash for having diversity problems. Black directors accounted for only about 10 percent of new board seats in 2019. According to Forbes, the rapper is one of the highest-paid celebrities of 2019-20, he officially became a billionaire this past April, largely due in part to his successful fashion and sneaker line.

Kanye West call out Adidas and GAP for not giving him a board seat, 'BlackBoard seat matters'

Barcelona and Argentina skipper Lionel Messi said that he is looking forward to playing in La Liga again, but the playing behind closed doors is "weird". Also read: Bayern's Mueller turns on charm in English as Bundesliga woos world Lionel Messi had resumed training with Barcelona after weeks of coronavirus lockdown in Spain that forced him to stay at home.

Barcelona and Argentina skipper Lionel Messi said that he is looking forward to playing in La Liga again, but the playing behind closed doors is "weird". Also read: Bayern's Mueller turns on charm in English as Bundesliga woos world Lionel Messi had resumed training with Barcelona after weeks of coronavirus lockdown in Spain that forced him to stay at home. La Liga is set to resume on June 12. Also read: Lifting Premier League trophy in empty stadium would be 'strange', says Henderson "We cannot think about what we are leaving behind this year. It is better to think about the future," said Messi on the website of sports brand Adidas. Football isn't ready. pic.twitter.com/4nmNnqJErr — FC Barcelona (from 🏠) (@FCBarcelona) May 26, 2020 × "Like going back to day-to-day training, seeing your teammates, playing your first few games. No doubt it will be strange at first, but I am looking forward to competing again! He said playing behind closed doors with no one to cheer "implies a series of challenges. The preparation at squad level is the same as for any other match, but it is true that individually you have to train and get mentally prepared to play without people because it is very weird." "It will be like starting over," he said. "Technically it will be the same season, but I think all teams and players will experience it differently." The six-time Ballon d'Or winner was ready to lead Argentina in this year's Copa America that is hosted by Colombia, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, the competition was postponed in march and now will take place in June and July next year. "Postponing the Copa America was a huge disappointment, but of course it was reasonable and most logical," Messi said. "The Copa was going to be a big event for me this year and I was looking forward to playing in it again," he said. "It was hard when I heard about the postponement, but I understood it perfectly," he said. (Inputs from an agency)

Lionel Messi awaits La Liga but also concerned about playing without fans

German sportswear makers Adidas and Puma both said on Wednesday that the coronavirus outbreak was hurting their business in China due to store closures and fewer Chinese tourists travelling and shopping in other markets.

German sportswear makers Adidas and Puma both said on Wednesday that the coronavirus outbreak was hurting their business in China due to store closures and fewer Chinese tourists travelling and shopping in other markets. Adidas and Puma make almost a third of their sales in Asia, which has been the market for the sporting goods industry in recent years. The region is also a key sourcing hub, with many sneakers produced in China and other Asian countries. Adidas said in a statement that its business in the Greater China area had dropped by about 85 per cent year-on-year in the period since Chinese New Year on January 25. Also Read: Coronavirus toll leaps past 1850 with 93 new deaths in China's Hubei province Adidas said it had also seen lower shopper traffic, mainly in Japan and South Korea, but added that it had not yet registered any major business impact beyond Greater China. "The magnitude of the overall impact on our business for the full-year 2020 cannot be quantified reliably at this point in time," it said, adding it would give more details when it publishes 2019 results on March 11. Adidas sells its products from about 12,000 stores in China, most of them franchises plus less than 500 own-operated stores. Puma said it expected the virus outbreak to hit its sales and profits in the first quarter but it still hopes to reach its targets for 2020. Watch: Coronavirus: Tourists Disappear from Chinatown, business down Puma said more than half of its stores in China were temporarily closed and the decline of the Chinese tourism business was also hurting other markets, especially in Asia. It said the uncertainty about the duration of the virus made it difficult to forecast but it is working under the assumption that the situation will normalise in the short-term. In the fourth quarter, Puma reported its strongest sales growth in the Asia/Pacific region of a currency-adjusted 23 per cent.

Puma, Adidas fear impacts of COVID-19 on China business

Sportswear maker Adidas announced Monday it was closing two niche but flagship factories in Germany and the United States that use robots and 4D printing to make sneakers, shifting the manufacturing to cheaper Asian factories instead.

The production of high-tech running shoes at its so-called speed factories in Germany's Ansbach and in the US city of Atlanta "will be discontinued by April 2020 at the latest", Adidas said in a statement.

Just three years ago, the Bavaria-based group had hailed its speed factory concept, which uses highly automated processes to make shoes more quickly, more customised and closer to sales outlets, as proof that manufacturing jobs could return to high-wage countries.

But from the end of this year, the speed factor shoes will join Adidas' other models and be produced by existing suppliers in Asia, the group said.

Citing "advancements" made at the suppliers, the move would make the production of the shoes "more flexible and economic while simultaneously expanding the range of products available", Adidas executive board member Martin Shankland said.

Both the speed factories churn out just a million of the roughly 400 million athletic shoes made by the group each year.

The future of the Ansbach plant's 160 workers is unclear at the moment.&nbsp;

The factory is operated by the German technology firm Oechsler, which has collaborated with Adidas on the project.

Oechsler CEO Claudius Kozlik said in the same statement that he regretted Adidas' pullout.

But he stressed that the two companies would continue to work together on soles for football shoes and 4D-printed soles.

Like 3D printing, 4D printing produces three-dimensional objects at the touch of a button but then goes further by creating materials that change properties when they come into contact with triggers such as water or heat.&nbsp;

Sportswear maker Adidas announced Monday it was closing two niche but flagship factories in Germany and the United States that use robots and 4D printing to make sneakers, shifting the manufacturing to cheaper Asian factories instead.

Sportswear maker Adidas announced Monday it was closing two niche but flagship factories in Germany and the United States that use robots and 4D printing to make sneakers, shifting the manufacturing to cheaper Asian factories instead. The production of high-tech running shoes at its so-called speed factories in Germany's Ansbach and in the US city of Atlanta "will be discontinued by April 2020 at the latest", Adidas said in a statement. Just three years ago, the Bavaria-based group had hailed its speed factory concept, which uses highly automated processes to make shoes more quickly, more customised and closer to sales outlets, as proof that manufacturing jobs could return to high-wage countries. But from the end of this year, the speed factor shoes will join Adidas' other models and be produced by existing suppliers in Asia, the group said. Citing "advancements" made at the suppliers, the move would make the production of the shoes "more flexible and economic while simultaneously expanding the range of products available", Adidas executive board member Martin Shankland said. Both the speed factories churn out just a million of the roughly 400 million athletic shoes made by the group each year. The future of the Ansbach plant's 160 workers is unclear at the moment. The factory is operated by the German technology firm Oechsler, which has collaborated with Adidas on the project. Oechsler CEO Claudius Kozlik said in the same statement that he regretted Adidas' pullout. But he stressed that the two companies would continue to work together on soles for football shoes and 4D-printed soles. Like 3D printing, 4D printing produces three-dimensional objects at the touch of a button but then goes further by creating materials that change properties when they come into contact with triggers such as water or heat.

Adidas shifts German, United States smart factories to Asia

Trade war whiplash and other market themes for the week ahead

The European Union's second highest court ruled on Wednesday that Adidas's three-stripe branding was invalid as a trademark as it lacked a distinctive character.

The General Court of the European Union said it upheld a decision of the European Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in 2016 to annul a previous decision to accept the mark.

The German sports goods company registered the trademark in 2014 for clothing, footwear and headgear, saying it consisted of "three parallel equidistant stripes of equal width applied to the product in whichever direction."

However, it was challenged by Belgian company Shoe Branding Europe, with which Adidas has been in a decade-long dispute.

An EU court rendered Shoe Branding's two-stripe trademark invalid last year saying the stripes were too similar to the trademark of Adidas.

Adidas needed to show the mark had acquired a "distinctive character" throughout the European Union based on its use so that consumers inherently knew a product was from Adidas and could distinguish it from products of another company.

The court said the mark was not a pattern but an "ordinary figurative mark" and it was not relevant to take into account specific uses involving colours.

It also said Adidas had provided evidence related to the mark's use in five EU countries but not throughout the bloc.

Adidas can still appeal to the European Court of Justice.

The European Union's second highest court ruled on Wednesday that Adidas's three-stripe branding was invalid as a trademark as it lacked a distinctive character.

The European Union's second highest court ruled on Wednesday that Adidas's three-stripe branding was invalid as a trademark as it lacked a distinctive character. The General Court of the European Union said it upheld a decision of the European Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in 2016 to annul a previous decision to accept the mark. The German sports goods company registered the trademark in 2014 for clothing, footwear and headgear, saying it consisted of "three parallel equidistant stripes of equal width applied to the product in whichever direction." However, it was challenged by Belgian company Shoe Branding Europe, with which Adidas has been in a decade-long dispute. An EU court rendered Shoe Branding's two-stripe trademark invalid last year saying the stripes were too similar to the trademark of Adidas. Adidas needed to show the mark had acquired a "distinctive character" throughout the European Union based on its use so that consumers inherently knew a product was from Adidas and could distinguish it from products of another company. The court said the mark was not a pattern but an "ordinary figurative mark" and it was not relevant to take into account specific uses involving colours. It also said Adidas had provided evidence related to the mark's use in five EU countries but not throughout the bloc. Adidas can still appeal to the European Court of Justice.

EU court declares Adidas three-stripe trademark invalid

German sportswear group Puma reported a record quarter in sales and earnings on Friday, driven by healthy demand in China and the Americas after it reentered the basketball market.

Puma has been growing faster than its bigger German rival Adidas and market leader Nike, helped by savvy social media campaigns and partnerships with celebrities like singers Selena Gomez and Rihanna and rap mogul Jay-Z.

Nike last month reported quarterly revenue that failed to beat Wall Street estimates for the first time in more than a year, as sales fell short of expectations in its biggest market of North America, sending its shares tumbling 5 per cent.

Puma's first-quarter sales rose a currency-adjusted 15.3 percent to 1.32 billion euros ($1.47 billion), versus an analyst consensus for 1.3 billion.

Operating profit came in at 143 million euros versus a consensus forecast of 139 million.

"The first quarter of 2019 was the best quarter PUMA has ever seen," Chief Executive Bjorn Gulden said in a statement, adding that revenue and absolute operating profit were the highest it had ever achieved.

Still, Puma held off raising its guidance for the full year, which analysts regard as conservative

"Even if we have nine more months to go and despite a lot of uncertainty in the market, we feel comfortable that we will achieve our guidance for the full year," Gulden said.

Puma has forecast currency-adjusted sales growth of about 10 per cent and operating profit of 395-415 million euros.

Adidas has forecast currency-neutral group sales growth of 5-8 per cent in 2019 as it grapples with supply issues, while Nike expects sales to grow in the low double digits.

Puma's first-quarter sales rose a currency-adjusted 28.6 per cent in Asia, and 16.3 per cent in the Americas, helped by Puma's launch of its first basketball shoe in 20 years in September.

German sportswear group Puma reported a record quarter in sales and earnings on Friday, driven by healthy demand in China and the Americas after it reentered the basketball market.

German sportswear group Puma reported a record quarter in sales and earnings on Friday, driven by healthy demand in China and the Americas after it reentered the basketball market. Puma has been growing faster than its bigger German rival Adidas and market leader Nike, helped by savvy social media campaigns and partnerships with celebrities like singers Selena Gomez and Rihanna and rap mogul Jay-Z. Nike last month reported quarterly revenue that failed to beat Wall Street estimates for the first time in more than a year, as sales fell short of expectations in its biggest market of North America, sending its shares tumbling 5 per cent. Puma's first-quarter sales rose a currency-adjusted 15.3 percent to 1.32 billion euros ($1.47 billion), versus an analyst consensus for 1.3 billion. Operating profit came in at 143 million euros versus a consensus forecast of 139 million. "The first quarter of 2019 was the best quarter PUMA has ever seen," Chief Executive Bjorn Gulden said in a statement, adding that revenue and absolute operating profit were the highest it had ever achieved. Still, Puma held off raising its guidance for the full year, which analysts regard as conservative "Even if we have nine more months to go and despite a lot of uncertainty in the market, we feel comfortable that we will achieve our guidance for the full year," Gulden said. Puma has forecast currency-adjusted sales growth of about 10 per cent and operating profit of 395-415 million euros. Adidas has forecast currency-neutral group sales growth of 5-8 per cent in 2019 as it grapples with supply issues, while Nike expects sales to grow in the low double digits. Puma's first-quarter sales rose a currency-adjusted 28.6 per cent in Asia, and 16.3 per cent in the Americas, helped by Puma's launch of its first basketball shoe in 20 years in September.

Puma reports 'best ever' quarter for sales and profit, beating Adidas and Nike

Premier League football club Arsenal has officially announced that Adidas will take over as its kit provider from the start of next season, effective July 1, 2019.

Adidas will take over the sponsorship title from competitor Puma, whose five-year contract with the North London club expires at the end of the season.&nbsp;

Arsenal last wore Adidas' kit between 1986 and 1994, during which they lifted two top-flight league titles.

The three stripped Adidas logo will don the Arsenal Football Club (Senior, Junior and women's team) jersey and training gear from July 2019, the release added.&nbsp;

Premier League football club Arsenal has officially announced that Adidas will take over as its kit provider from the start of next season, effective July 1, 2019.

Premier League football club Arsenal has officially announced that Adidas will take over as its kit provider from the start of next season, effective July 1, 2019. Adidas will take over the sponsorship title from competitor Puma, whose five-year contract with the North London club expires at the end of the season. Arsenal last wore Adidas' kit between 1986 and 1994, during which they lifted two top-flight league titles. The three stripped Adidas logo will don the Arsenal Football Club (Senior, Junior and women's team) jersey and training gear from July 2019, the release added.

Arsenal to don Adidas jersey starting July 2019

Puma expects gross margins to be squeezed by discounting in the fourth quarter, despite a new collection from singer Rihanna helping the German sportswear company raise its 2017 sales and operating earnings outlook.

Puma said on Tuesday that third-quarter sales rose a currency-adjusted 23 percent in Europe, Middle East and Africa, 16 percent in the Americas and 10 percent in Asia/Pacific.

Like its German rival Adidas, which reports results on Nov. 9, Puma has been enjoying a revival in the U.S. market, as shoppers snap up its retro styles instead of basketball shoes, hurting Under Armour and Nike.

&quot;Rihanna&#39;s relationship with us makes the brand actual and hot again with young consumers,&quot; Chief Executive Bjorn Gulden told a media call, adding that growth in Puma&#39;s gear for women was outstripping other areas of the business.

Puma, which was bought by French luxury goods company Kering in 2007, had been struggling for years, but analysts expect Kering could seek to sell its stake in the course of 2018 now that the German brand is performing well again.

Gulden cautioned that fourth-quarter gross margins could be weaker due to heavy discounting, particularly in the United States where retailers are struggling, and in Europe, due to mild weather deterring shoppers from buying winter gear.

Nike last month posted its slowest quarterly sales growth in nearly seven years in the face of intensifying competition from Adidas and Puma and a looming price war amid retailers.

DUAL TRACK

Puma shares, which had jumped last week after the company hiked its outlook, were down 2 percent at 0818 GMT. Its market capitalisation is now 5.3 billion euros ($6.23 billion), back at the level at which Kering bought it.

Kering is expected to pursue a dual track initial public offering-auction to spin off Puma next year, not before, the Business of Fashion website reported, citing investment bankers in Paris and London.

Gulden said he had not heard anything about a possible sale, noting there have been repeated media reports suggesting a Kering disposal is imminent in recent years.

Puma said growth had been driven in particular by footwear, with sales up a currency adjusted 23 percent, and accessories, which rose 24 percent, while sales of apparel were up 8 percent.

Puma said its retro &quot;Basket Heart&quot; sneakers and &quot;Ignite Limitless&quot; running shoes were particularly popular and women&#39;s sales were helped by a Rihanna collection launched in September as well as a partnership with singer and actress Selena Gomez.

Puma named Rihanna as its women&#39;s creative director in 2014 as sportswear firms seek to tap into the booming market for female leisure gear, which Gulden said now accounts for about a third of its business although women also buy unisex products.

Like its German rival Adidas, which reports results on Nov. 9, Puma has been enjoying a revival in the U.S. market, as shoppers snap up its retro styles instead of basketball shoes, hurting Under Armour and Nike.

Puma expects gross margins to be squeezed by discounting in the fourth quarter, despite a new collection from singer Rihanna helping the German sportswear company raise its 2017 sales and operating earnings outlook. Puma said on Tuesday that third-quarter sales rose a currency-adjusted 23 percent in Europe, Middle East and Africa, 16 percent in the Americas and 10 percent in Asia/Pacific. Like its German rival Adidas, which reports results on Nov. 9, Puma has been enjoying a revival in the U.S. market, as shoppers snap up its retro styles instead of basketball shoes, hurting Under Armour and Nike. "Rihanna's relationship with us makes the brand actual and hot again with young consumers," Chief Executive Bjorn Gulden told a media call, adding that growth in Puma's gear for women was outstripping other areas of the business. Puma, which was bought by French luxury goods company Kering in 2007, had been struggling for years, but analysts expect Kering could seek to sell its stake in the course of 2018 now that the German brand is performing well again. Gulden cautioned that fourth-quarter gross margins could be weaker due to heavy discounting, particularly in the United States where retailers are struggling, and in Europe, due to mild weather deterring shoppers from buying winter gear. Nike last month posted its slowest quarterly sales growth in nearly seven years in the face of intensifying competition from Adidas and Puma and a looming price war amid retailers. DUAL TRACK Puma shares, which had jumped last week after the company hiked its outlook, were down 2 percent at 0818 GMT. Its market capitalisation is now 5.3 billion euros ($6.23 billion), back at the level at which Kering bought it. Kering is expected to pursue a dual track initial public offering-auction to spin off Puma next year, not before, the Business of Fashion website reported, citing investment bankers in Paris and London. Gulden said he had not heard anything about a possible sale, noting there have been repeated media reports suggesting a Kering disposal is imminent in recent years. Puma said growth had been driven in particular by footwear, with sales up a currency adjusted 23 percent, and accessories, which rose 24 percent, while sales of apparel were up 8 percent. Puma said its retro "Basket Heart" sneakers and "Ignite Limitless" running shoes were particularly popular and women's sales were helped by a Rihanna collection launched in September as well as a partnership with singer and actress Selena Gomez. Puma named Rihanna as its women's creative director in 2014 as sportswear firms seek to tap into the booming market for female leisure gear, which Gulden said now accounts for about a third of its business although women also buy unisex products.

Puma relishes Rihanna brand impact, fears discounts

German sportswear giant Adidas sparked a social media outcry Tuesday after sending an email congratulating runners in the Boston Marathon for having &quot;survived&quot; the race.

The choice of words jarred as memories remain fresh of the 2013 deadly bombing of the event in the Massachusetts city.

&quot;Congrats, you survived the Boston Marathon!&quot; Adidas said in the subject line of an email it sent to the 26,492 participants who finished the annual race Monday.

The email instantly set off a furor on social media, where many people published screen grabs of the email and denounced its offensive nature.

The official Twitter account of Adidas North America, with the handle @adidasUS, rushed to apologise.

&quot;We are incredibly sorry. Clearly, there was no thought given to the insensitive email subject line we sent Tuesday,&quot; it tweeted.

&quot;We deeply apologize for our mistake.&quot;

On April 15, 2013, two brothers of Chechen descent, Tamerlan and Dzokhar Tsarnaev, planted pressure-cooker bombs near the Boston Marathon finish line, killing three people and injuring 264 others.

On Monday, Geoffrey Kirui and Edna Kiplagat led a Kenyan clean sweep at the 121st Boston Marathon, winning the respective men&#39;s and women&#39;s races.

The Boston Marathon is the world&#39;s oldest annual marathon and one of the most prestigious races over the distance of just over 26 miles (42 kilometres) on the athletics calendar.

(AFP)

'Congrats, you survived the Boston Marathon!' jarred as memories remain fresh of the 2013 deadly bombing of the event

German sportswear giant Adidas sparked a social media outcry Tuesday after sending an email congratulating runners in the Boston Marathon for having "survived" the race. The choice of words jarred as memories remain fresh of the 2013 deadly bombing of the event in the Massachusetts city. "Congrats, you survived the Boston Marathon!" Adidas said in the subject line of an email it sent to the 26,492 participants who finished the annual race Monday. The email instantly set off a furor on social media, where many people published screen grabs of the email and denounced its offensive nature. The official Twitter account of Adidas North America, with the handle @adidasUS, rushed to apologise. "We are incredibly sorry. Clearly, there was no thought given to the insensitive email subject line we sent Tuesday," it tweeted. "We deeply apologize for our mistake." On April 15, 2013, two brothers of Chechen descent, Tamerlan and Dzokhar Tsarnaev, planted pressure-cooker bombs near the Boston Marathon finish line, killing three people and injuring 264 others. On Monday, Geoffrey Kirui and Edna Kiplagat led a Kenyan clean sweep at the 121st Boston Marathon, winning the respective men's and women's races. The Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon and one of the most prestigious races over the distance of just over 26 miles (42 kilometres) on the athletics calendar. (AFP)

Adidas sparks furor with Boston Marathon 'survivor' email

Adidas launched a new sneaker with a 3D-printed sole that it plans to mass-produce next year. This new move is part of a broader push by the German sportswear firm to react faster to changing fashions and create more customised products.

Adidas already lets people customise the colour and pattern of shoes ordered online but new 3D printing methods will make small production runs, limited edition shoes and even soles designed to fit an individual&#39;s weight and gait economical.

Rivals Nike, Under Armour and New Balance have also been experimenting with 3D printing but have so far only used the technique to make prototypes, soles tailored for sponsored athletes and a handful of high-priced novelty shoes.

That&#39;s because traditional 3D printers are slower, more expensive and often create an inferior product than the injection moulds for plastic that are currently used to produce hundreds of millions of shoes each year, mostly in Asia.

However, Adidas says its new partnership with Silicon Valley start-up Carbon allows it to overcome many of those difficulties to produce a sole that can rival one made by an injection mould, and at a speed and price that allow for mass production.

&quot;This is a milestone not only for us as a company but also for the industry,&quot; said Gerd Manz, Adidas head of technology innovation, announcing the launch of its new &quot;Futurecraft 4D&quot; shoe. &quot;We&#39;ve cracked some of the boundaries.&quot;

Carbon, financed by venture firms such as Sequoia Capital as well as funds set up by General Electric and Alphabet&#39;s Google, has pioneered a technique that prints with light-sensitive polymer resin that is then baked for strength.

Standard 3D printers build up products with layers of plastic powder, a method used by Hewlett Packard which is working with Nike and says its newest machines work 10 times faster and at half the cost than earlier models.

Adidas hopes to sell 5,000 pairs of its &quot;Futurecraft 4D&quot; this year, and 100,000 next year as Carbon cuts the time it takes to print a sole from the current hour and a half to as low as 20 minutes per sole.

The shoes will sell at an unspecified premium price but Adidas plans to lower the cost as the technology develops.

Late last year Adidas sold a few hundred pairs of running shoes with soles made by regular 3D printing for $333 but they were relatively rigid and heavy and took 10 hours to print.

&ldquo;Walk before you run&rdquo;

Carbon&#39;s technology will allow Adidas to make small batches of shoes far more quickly. Small production runs were not economical before as the metal moulds for most soles need to be used 10,000 times to pay for themselves, and they take four to six weeks to cast and grind.

&quot;What you can do is introduce more types of products without a cost penalty,&quot; said Terry Wohlers, head of Wohlers Associates, a US consultancy specialising in 3D printing. &quot;With this technology, you can produce one or a few inexpensively.&quot;

Wohlers expects the 3D printing industry to more than quadruple sales to $26 billion by 2022, driven mostly by the automotive, medical, dental and jewellery sectors.

Adidas initially plans batches of shoes tailored to specific sports or cities but hopes consumers will eventually be measured and tested in store to design perfectly-fitting shoes tweaked for an individual&#39;s gait, weight and type of sport.

&quot;Individualisation will come, but you&#39;ve got to learn to walk before you run,&quot; Manz said, citing a survey that shows 80 percent of consumers want to be part of the design process.

Adidas last month experimented with a pop-up store where customers could design a custom-fitted sweater and have it knitted in the store.

3D printing will also help cut the time it takes to get new designs to stores from the 12 to 18 months it usually takes for sneakers. To that end, Adidas is also opening factories mainly operated by robots in Germany and the United States.

(Reuters)

Adidas will sell the shoes at an unspecified premium price, but it plans to lower the cost as the technology develops

Adidas launched a new sneaker with a 3D-printed sole that it plans to mass-produce next year. This new move is part of a broader push by the German sportswear firm to react faster to changing fashions and create more customised products. Adidas already lets people customise the colour and pattern of shoes ordered online but new 3D printing methods will make small production runs, limited edition shoes and even soles designed to fit an individual's weight and gait economical. Rivals Nike, Under Armour and New Balance have also been experimenting with 3D printing but have so far only used the technique to make prototypes, soles tailored for sponsored athletes and a handful of high-priced novelty shoes. That's because traditional 3D printers are slower, more expensive and often create an inferior product than the injection moulds for plastic that are currently used to produce hundreds of millions of shoes each year, mostly in Asia. However, Adidas says its new partnership with Silicon Valley start-up Carbon allows it to overcome many of those difficulties to produce a sole that can rival one made by an injection mould, and at a speed and price that allow for mass production. "This is a milestone not only for us as a company but also for the industry," said Gerd Manz, Adidas head of technology innovation, announcing the launch of its new "Futurecraft 4D" shoe. "We've cracked some of the boundaries." Carbon, financed by venture firms such as Sequoia Capital as well as funds set up by General Electric and Alphabet's Google, has pioneered a technique that prints with light-sensitive polymer resin that is then baked for strength. Standard 3D printers build up products with layers of plastic powder, a method used by Hewlett Packard which is working with Nike and says its newest machines work 10 times faster and at half the cost than earlier models. Adidas hopes to sell 5,000 pairs of its "Futurecraft 4D" this year, and 100,000 next year as Carbon cuts the time it takes to print a sole from the current hour and a half to as low as 20 minutes per sole. The shoes will sell at an unspecified premium price but Adidas plans to lower the cost as the technology develops. Late last year Adidas sold a few hundred pairs of running shoes with soles made by regular 3D printing for $333 but they were relatively rigid and heavy and took 10 hours to print. “Walk before you run” Carbon's technology will allow Adidas to make small batches of shoes far more quickly. Small production runs were not economical before as the metal moulds for most soles need to be used 10,000 times to pay for themselves, and they take four to six weeks to cast and grind. "What you can do is introduce more types of products without a cost penalty," said Terry Wohlers, head of Wohlers Associates, a US consultancy specialising in 3D printing. "With this technology, you can produce one or a few inexpensively." Wohlers expects the 3D printing industry to more than quadruple sales to $26 billion by 2022, driven mostly by the automotive, medical, dental and jewellery sectors. Adidas initially plans batches of shoes tailored to specific sports or cities but hopes consumers will eventually be measured and tested in store to design perfectly-fitting shoes tweaked for an individual's gait, weight and type of sport. "Individualisation will come, but you've got to learn to walk before you run," Manz said, citing a survey that shows 80 percent of consumers want to be part of the design process. Adidas last month experimented with a pop-up store where customers could design a custom-fitted sweater and have it knitted in the store. 3D printing will also help cut the time it takes to get new designs to stores from the 12 to 18 months it usually takes for sneakers. To that end, Adidas is also opening factories mainly operated by robots in Germany and the United States. (Reuters)

Adidas to mass-produce 3D-printed shoe

German sportswear giant Adidas today ended its sponsorship of the IAAF in the wake of a doping scandal that has rocked the world of track and field.

Adidas&#39; 11-year sponsorship deal with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) was set to run until 2019.

But it has withdrawn in the wake of an unprecedented corruption scandal that has seen senior former IAAF officials implicated in widespread bribery to keep quiet on positive tests by Russian athletes.

The IAAF said it &quot;thanks adidas for its long standing support of athletics and close partnership with the IAAF&quot;.

&quot;While our commercial relationship concludes at the end of 2016, the IAAF is pleased that adidas remains committed to athletics.&quot;

The IAAF added that it would &quot;shortly make an announcement of a new official IAAF partner in the same category&quot;.&nbsp;

(AFP) 
&nbsp;

The sportswear giant withdrew its sponsorship in the wake of an unprecedented corruption scandal in the world of track & field

German sportswear giant Adidas today ended its sponsorship of the IAAF in the wake of a doping scandal that has rocked the world of track and field. Adidas' 11-year sponsorship deal with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) was set to run until 2019. But it has withdrawn in the wake of an unprecedented corruption scandal that has seen senior former IAAF officials implicated in widespread bribery to keep quiet on positive tests by Russian athletes. The IAAF said it "thanks adidas for its long standing support of athletics and close partnership with the IAAF". "While our commercial relationship concludes at the end of 2016, the IAAF is pleased that adidas remains committed to athletics." The IAAF added that it would "shortly make an announcement of a new official IAAF partner in the same category". (AFP)

Adidas ends sponsorship of doping-tainted IAAF

Switzerland winger Xherdan Shaqiri said he hoped sportswear maker Puma &quot;doesn&#39;t make condoms&quot; after several Swiss players ended their Euro 2016 match with France with shredded jerseys. 
 
The German company blamed a material flaw after four Swiss players -- Admir Mehmedi, Breel Embolo, Blerim Dzemaili and Granit Xhaka -- had to change their shirts in the first half of the goalless draw in Lille on Sunday. 
 
Recent Arsenal recruit Xhaka had to change his shirt again in the second half. 
 
&quot;I hope Puma doesn&#39;t make condoms,&quot; Shaqiri told Switzerland&#39;s SRF broadcaster. 
 
Former England striker Gary Lineker took the opportunity to poke fun on Twitter, writing: &quot;Swiss team&#39;s Puma shirts tearing like paper. Adidas ball bursting. You can never rely on German efficiency!&quot; 
 
During the same match, the Adidas ball used burst in a tackle by Swiss midfielder Valon Behrami. 
 
In a statement, Puma said that &quot;our five Puma teams have played 10 games at Euro 2016 before this without experiencing this problem&quot;. 
 
It later followed up to say that, in all, seven jerseys were ripped Sunday in &quot;grabbing and tugging by French opponents&quot; in the European Championship match. 
 
It said its investigation had found that &quot;there was a faulty batch of material in which the yarn was damaged during production&quot;. 
 
It blamed incorrect application of heat and pressure in the manufacturing process in a workshop in Turkey and promised that &quot;there will not be a repetition&quot; of the flaw. 
 
Puma is also the supplier for the teams of Austria, Czech Republic, Italy and Slovakia. 
 
All of them had &quot;confirmed that they had no problems of this kind and are very satisfied with the quality, functionality and design of the shirts,&quot; said the company. 
 
&quot;Puma regrets the incident and apologises to the Swiss Football Association and its players,&quot; it added. 
 
The Swiss shirts will be needed for at least one more match as the team has qualified for the second round. 
 
Puma&#39;s German rival Adidas said today that it had agreed a four-year deal to remain kit supplier to Germany until 2022, worth more than 50 million euros ($56.5 million) a year. 
 
The agreement with the world champions came in the face of competition from US giant Nike for the prestigious contract. 
(AFP)

Puma blamed for material flaw after four Swiss players had to change their shirts in the first half of the goalless draw in Lille on Sunday

Switzerland winger Xherdan Shaqiri said he hoped sportswear maker Puma "doesn't make condoms" after several Swiss players ended their Euro 2016 match with France with shredded jerseys. The German company blamed a material flaw after four Swiss players -- Admir Mehmedi, Breel Embolo, Blerim Dzemaili and Granit Xhaka -- had to change their shirts in the first half of the goalless draw in Lille on Sunday. Recent Arsenal recruit Xhaka had to change his shirt again in the second half. "I hope Puma doesn't make condoms," Shaqiri told Switzerland's SRF broadcaster. Former England striker Gary Lineker took the opportunity to poke fun on Twitter, writing: "Swiss team's Puma shirts tearing like paper. Adidas ball bursting. You can never rely on German efficiency!" During the same match, the Adidas ball used burst in a tackle by Swiss midfielder Valon Behrami. In a statement, Puma said that "our five Puma teams have played 10 games at Euro 2016 before this without experiencing this problem". It later followed up to say that, in all, seven jerseys were ripped Sunday in "grabbing and tugging by French opponents" in the European Championship match. It said its investigation had found that "there was a faulty batch of material in which the yarn was damaged during production". It blamed incorrect application of heat and pressure in the manufacturing process in a workshop in Turkey and promised that "there will not be a repetition" of the flaw. Puma is also the supplier for the teams of Austria, Czech Republic, Italy and Slovakia. All of them had "confirmed that they had no problems of this kind and are very satisfied with the quality, functionality and design of the shirts," said the company. "Puma regrets the incident and apologises to the Swiss Football Association and its players," it added. The Swiss shirts will be needed for at least one more match as the team has qualified for the second round. Puma's German rival Adidas said today that it had agreed a four-year deal to remain kit supplier to Germany until 2022, worth more than 50 million euros ($56.5 million) a year. The agreement with the world champions came in the face of competition from US giant Nike for the prestigious contract. (AFP)

?'I hope Puma don't make condoms' says Shaqiri

German sportswear firm Puma is not worried about the possible imminent retirement of Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, the highest profile athlete it sponsors, believing Bolt could be just as valuable off the track. 
 
&quot;Usain is part of the Puma family,&quot; chief executive Bjorn Gulden told reporters today. &quot;If he decides not to run, we will probably work even closer with him,&quot; he said, adding Bolt would have more time for product development and could even take on a commercial role at Puma. 
 
Gulden made the comments after Puma reported a stronger-than-expected rise in second quarter sales, helped by the European soccer championships as well as popular women&#39;s products endorsed by singer Rihanna and celebrity Kylie Jenner. 
 
Puma reported a quarterly net profit of 1.6 million Euros ($1.8 million), compared with a loss of 3.3 million a year ago. Sales rose 7 per cent to 827 million Euros, beating analysts&#39; average forecast of 819 million. Bigger rival Adidas is expected to report even stronger growth for the quarter on August 4, with a Thomson Reuters Smart Estimate suggesting a 13 per cent rise in sales. 
 
Puma shares pared earlier gains to trade up 0.3 per cent by 08:50 GMT, while owner Kering rose 2.4 per cent. Adidas, which has been hitting a series of record highs in anticipation of bumper results, was up 1.6 per cent. 
 
Gulden said it was not clear whether the six-time Olympic sprint champion, who has been sponsored by Puma since he was 15 years old, would keep running after the upcoming Rio Olympics, saying Bolt might need time off to think about it. 
 
Gulden said the Jamaican was already helping Puma hunt for a successor, adding the company has a strong scouting operating in the Caribbean, &quot;We have to admit there won&#39;t be a second Usain but there will be something else,&quot; he said. 
 
While Bolt is Puma&#39;s highest profile athlete and the Olympics a major platform for the brand, Gulden said it was hard to measure a direct impact on sales as fans do not buy replica team shirts in the same way they do for sports like soccer. 
 
Quarterly sales grew fastest in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, up a currency-adjusted 23.5 per cent, boosted by Puma&#39;s sponsorship of five national soccer teams at Euro 2016, including Italy, plus players like top scorer Antoine Griezmann of France and Portugal goal keeper Rui Patricio. 
 
While sales of replica team shirts started already last November, Gulden said he was optimistic of a boost to soccer shoe sales when youngsters fired up by Euro 2016 start back at school. 
 
Gulden said Puma&#39;s partnerships with Rihanna and Jenner were helping it win more space at key retailers, which are all putting more focus on the women&#39;s business because it is growing faster than the men&#39;s. 
 
The firm confirmed it expects sales to grow by a high single-digit percentage this year, with gross profit margin remaining flat from last year&#39;s 45.5 per cent and operating earnings between 115 million and 125 million Euros. 
 
(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

Chief executive Bjorn Gulden said that should Usain retire after Rio, he would have more time for product development

German sportswear firm Puma is not worried about the possible imminent retirement of Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, the highest profile athlete it sponsors, believing Bolt could be just as valuable off the track. "Usain is part of the Puma family," chief executive Bjorn Gulden told reporters today. "If he decides not to run, we will probably work even closer with him," he said, adding Bolt would have more time for product development and could even take on a commercial role at Puma. Gulden made the comments after Puma reported a stronger-than-expected rise in second quarter sales, helped by the European soccer championships as well as popular women's products endorsed by singer Rihanna and celebrity Kylie Jenner. Puma reported a quarterly net profit of 1.6 million Euros ($1.8 million), compared with a loss of 3.3 million a year ago. Sales rose 7 per cent to 827 million Euros, beating analysts' average forecast of 819 million. Bigger rival Adidas is expected to report even stronger growth for the quarter on August 4, with a Thomson Reuters Smart Estimate suggesting a 13 per cent rise in sales. Puma shares pared earlier gains to trade up 0.3 per cent by 08:50 GMT, while owner Kering rose 2.4 per cent. Adidas, which has been hitting a series of record highs in anticipation of bumper results, was up 1.6 per cent. Gulden said it was not clear whether the six-time Olympic sprint champion, who has been sponsored by Puma since he was 15 years old, would keep running after the upcoming Rio Olympics, saying Bolt might need time off to think about it. Gulden said the Jamaican was already helping Puma hunt for a successor, adding the company has a strong scouting operating in the Caribbean, "We have to admit there won't be a second Usain but there will be something else," he said. While Bolt is Puma's highest profile athlete and the Olympics a major platform for the brand, Gulden said it was hard to measure a direct impact on sales as fans do not buy replica team shirts in the same way they do for sports like soccer. Quarterly sales grew fastest in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, up a currency-adjusted 23.5 per cent, boosted by Puma's sponsorship of five national soccer teams at Euro 2016, including Italy, plus players like top scorer Antoine Griezmann of France and Portugal goal keeper Rui Patricio. While sales of replica team shirts started already last November, Gulden said he was optimistic of a boost to soccer shoe sales when youngsters fired up by Euro 2016 start back at school. Gulden said Puma's partnerships with Rihanna and Jenner were helping it win more space at key retailers, which are all putting more focus on the women's business because it is growing faster than the men's. The firm confirmed it expects sales to grow by a high single-digit percentage this year, with gross profit margin remaining flat from last year's 45.5 per cent and operating earnings between 115 million and 125 million Euros. (Reuters)

Puma not worried by Bolt retirement, believes he will be as valuable off track

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