Leading sports nutrition company Science in Sport plc (SiS) has signed an exclusive agreement with the European arm of Shimano, one of the world’s largest cycling distributors and component manufacturers, for the distribution of SiS products in a select group of European countries.
This agreement, which has been signed with Shimano Europe Bike Holdings BV, marks a further step in the delivery of SiS’s strategy to develop international sales. The deal takes the SiS brand into Norway, Sweden, Finland and Poland for the first time.
The countries covered by the agreement, which begins on 1 May 2014, are France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, Norway, Sweden and Finland. In these eight countries, Shimano distributes to a mix of independent bicycle dealers, sports retail chains and endurance sports retailers.
Shimano will be managing all sales, marketing and customer service responsibilities for these regions.
Lennard Vis, Manager of Marketing and Sales Support at Shimano Europe Bike Holdings BV, said “We are very excited about this partnership, and we are confident this is an important step in realizing our objectives and improving our position in the market.
“SiS’s wide range of science-based nutrition products is a welcome addition to our portfolio, and we are happy to further strengthen our leading role in this way.”
Stephen Moon, CEO of Science in Sport plc, added, “We are delighted to sign this agreement with Shimano, one of the best known names in cycling and a company with unrivalled expertise in European sports retail. The agreement means that the SiS brand will benefit from a single distributor across a substantial part of Europe.”
Over the past 90 years, Shimano has established itself as the world’s leading manufacturer of bike components thanks to a record for ‘innovation and reliability in all conditions’. In 1921, Shozaburo Shimano set up the Shimano Iron Works and started producing bicycle freewheels. Within a decade, the company was producing 30,000 single-speed freewheels a year and had already gained a reputation for quality by offering two free replacements in the event of product failure.
Throughout the years Shimano has grown to a company that stands for ‘reliability, functionality, quality, and innovation.’
SiS was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Windsor, Berkshire. Its manufacturing facility is in Nelson, Lancashire. SiS shares are traded on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol SIS.
The SiS core product ranges include: SiS GO, comprising energy powders, isotonic gels, energy bars and hydration tablets; and SiS REGO, including protein-based recovery powders and bars. SiS products are sold in a range of retail channels, including specialist sport retailers, major grocers, high street retailers and e-commerce websites.
SiS is currently the official sports nutrition supplier to professional cycling teams Rapha Condor JLT, Belkin Pro Cycling, Madison Genesis, Pro Team Astana, Team Katusha and Trek. SiS is also currently the official supplier of sports drinks and sports nutrition to the GB Rowing Team. In addition, Olympians Sir Chris Hoy MBE, Mark Cavendish MBE and pro triathlete Helen Jenkins are Elite Sports Consultants and brand ambassadors.
www.scienceinsport.com
www.shimano.com
