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certainly helps disprove that. And there are other High Street or shopping centre situations that Decathlon are capitalising on – for example its recent deals in Guildford and Brighton.”


The smallest stores in Decathlon’s UK portfolio are currently around 13,000sq ft while the largest will be the 100,000 sq ft reconfiguration of its Surrey Quays store which will open in May of next year.


Rodriguez has been with Decathlon for more than six years and has been involved in some of the company’s largest UK property transactions.


In addition to the brand’s retailing presence, he also oversees the company’s logistics expansion requirement. By the end of next year, the company will have completed the development of its first ‘build-to-suit’ distribution centre at Northampton which, he says, demonstrates the business’s commitment to the UK.


“Our strategy is quite simple,” he reports. “We want to become the market leader in the UK and we plan to open stores wherever they are needed.”


“ We want to become the market leader in the UK and we plan to open stores wherever they are needed.”


Decathlon: making moves in the UK


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