Decathlon UK

The UK arm of the French sports retailer Decathlon, selling sports equipment and clothing across 70 sports from stores and online.

About Decathlon UK

Decathlon UK Limited is the UK business of Decathlon, a family-owned sports retailer founded in Lille, France, in 1976. It sells sports products for around 70 different sports, made largely under its own brands, and was described in a June 2022 interview as having about 2,080 stores in 56 countries. Companies House lists Decathlon UK Limited, number 03140144, incorporated on 21 December 1995, with the SIC codes for retail of sports goods, fishing gear, camping goods, boats and bicycles and for retail of clothing in specialised shops.

Decathlon states its UK mission as helping more people in the UK become more physically active and healthier through sport. Its wider purpose is to make the best sports products accessible to everyone, with expertly designed kit at unbeatable value. The June 2022 article, which interviewed UK chief executive Eric Mazillier, said the brand serves everyone regardless of race, religion or creed. Its product engineers work in Sports Labs in France, and the company cited the first post-mastectomy sports bra as an example. It says it uses more sustainable materials and eco-design from the start of a product's life, and plans to expand its circular economy offer.

In the UK, the registered office is listed at Head Office, 9 Maritime Street, London SE16 7FU. A job search page showed roles in the Stockport area, and a job listing showed a Nottingham store role. In 2022 the company was opening concessions inside Tesco superstores, in places such as Cardiff, Kent and Glasgow, as a way of reaching shoppers on their weekly shop. Store numbers have probably changed since 2022, and we could not confirm a current count.

The company's people are called "Decathletes". The June 2022 article said there were almost 100,000 of them worldwide, described as sports enthusiasts who turned their passion into a job, from many countries and backgrounds. In stores, staff give specialist advice rather than only taking payments. Those descriptions come from the company and a trade interview, so they show how Decathlon presents itself.

Jobs at a big sports retailer include store sales advisers who specialise in sports such as running, cycling or mountain sport, store managers, warehouse and delivery staff, buyers and product managers, online and ecommerce teams, marketing, finance and people teams in the head office. If you are sporty and enjoy helping people choose the right kit, this shows how a love of sport can become a career across the whole shop floor and head office.

What they do

• {'desc': 'Products for around 70 sports, many under its own brands.', 'title': 'Sports equipment and clothing'}
• {'desc': 'Shops across the UK, including concessions inside Tesco stores, and an online shop.', 'title': 'Stores and online'}
• {'desc': 'In-store specialist advice from staff called Decathletes.', 'title': 'Customer advice'}

Key facts

• Parent company founded in Lille, France, in 1976; Decathlon UK Limited incorporated 21 December 1995
• Registered office: 9 Maritime Street, London SE16 7FU (Companies House)
• UK mission: help more people in the UK be active and healthier through sport (June 2022)
• Opened concessions inside Tesco stores in Cardiff, Kent and Glasgow (2022)

Website: www.decathlon.co.uk