Halfords are set to stock more cycling clothing – including premium brands such as Adidas – as they aim to become a “one-stop shop” for bike gear and accessories.
Until now, the nationwide retailers have stocked a limited range of clothing, mainly by Altura. But head of cycling at the firm, Karen Bellairs, said they would be expanding their range of apparel.
It means that the company – who's core market is family cycling – will start to compete against chain stores such as Evans Cycles and CycleSurgery for a bigger share of the clothing and accessories market.
on Sunday, Bellairs told the Daily Telegraph that interest from women, commuters and enthusiasts is growing and that Halfords want to capture a larger share of the market from specialist bike shops. Earlier this year, they started stocking Pinarello bikes.
The news comes as Halfords prepare to launch a much larger online shopping operation, which will offer 15,000 products from 180 brands. The site is expected to launch this summer.
Last month, market research specialists Mintel estimated cycling was a £700m a year industry in the UK.