Castro-Hodis Group to Launch Chinese Sports Brand ANTA in Israel by 2027

The Israeli retail group Castro-Hodis announced on Monday it will introduce the Chinese sportswear brand ANTA to the Israeli market. ANTA, owned by Anta Sports, is the third-largest sports equipment company globally after Nike and Adidas. Castro-Hodis signed a five-year distribution agreement with Anta Sports and plans to distribute the brand both wholesale and through dedicated physical and online stores, investing approximately 30 million shekels. The launch is expected to occur during 2027.

ANTA recently acquired control of the German brand Puma for 1.5 billion euros and has expanded internationally through acquisitions including Finland's Amer Sports, which owns brands like Arc'teryx and Salomon, as well as Wilson and FILA rights in China, Hong Kong, and Macau. ANTA Sports operates over 10,000 stores in China and about 250 internationally, with revenues reaching approximately $11.6 billion in 2025.

ANTA specializes in sports apparel and footwear, particularly basketball shoes, and is known for affordable prices and advanced shock absorption technologies. The brand collaborates with NBA players such as Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving, and gained recent attention through freestyle skier and model Eileen Gu, who represents the brand internationally.

Castro-Hodis is negotiating with third parties to potentially bring them in as minority partners (up to 49%) in a dedicated subsidiary managing ANTA's Israeli operations, while retaining majority control. The group is also negotiating lease rights and infrastructure arrangements for retail locations. The agreement includes a right of first refusal for Castro-Hodis to extend the contract after five years, contingent on meeting performance targets.

The move comes amid a slowdown in Israeli companies securing European and American brand licenses due to regional conflicts and negative perceptions of Israel. ANTA's entry marks a significant addition to the Israeli sports retail market alongside recent arrivals like Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works, which signed deals before the recent conflicts.