Castro-Hodis Group to Launch Chinese Sports Brand ANTA in Israel with $30 Million Investment

The Israeli fashion group Castro-Hodis is entering the growing sports lifestyle market by signing a five-year agreement to import and distribute the Chinese sports brand ANTA. The deal, valued at approximately 30 million shekels, includes wholesale distribution, opening physical stores, and launching an online platform, with operations expected to begin in 2027. Castro-Hodis is also exploring bringing in partners for up to 49% ownership in a dedicated subsidiary formed to manage the ANTA agreement, while negotiating leases and infrastructure for new retail locations.

ANTA, founded in China in 1991 and publicly traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 2007, is a major player in the Chinese sportswear market. In 2025, ANTA reported revenues of about $11.6 billion and operates over 10,000 stores in China and 250 internationally. The company holds approximately 23% of China's sports apparel and footwear market, surpassing Nike and Adidas domestically. ANTA has expanded through acquisitions, including the Chinese operations of FILA and Finnish Amer Sports, which owns brands like Salomon and Wilson. In early 2026, ANTA acquired a 29% stake in Puma, becoming its largest shareholder.

Castro-Hodis aims to leverage ANTA as a new growth engine beyond its core fashion business amid increasing competition in Israel's sports lifestyle sector, which includes established brands like Nike (owned by Fox-Wizel), Adidas (Electra Consumer Products and the Zalkind family), and Decathlon. CEO Yair Ohayon described the move as a strategic long-term growth initiative, citing the group's experience in brand development and optimism about introducing Israeli consumers to new Chinese sportswear alternatives.

This investment follows challenging financial results for Castro-Hodis in Q1 2026 but is not a reactive measure. The company believes ANTA can replicate the success of Chinese brands in other sectors, such as automotive, within the Israeli market. Meanwhile, competitors like Fox-Wizel have reported significant losses with the Nike brand, highlighting the competitive pressures in the sector.

Summary: Castro-Hodis is set to introduce the Chinese sports brand ANTA to Israel with a $30 million investment, aiming to expand its presence in the competitive sports lifestyle market starting in 2027. ANTA is a leading Chinese sportswear company with significant domestic and international operations, recently becoming Puma's largest shareholder. The move is part of Castro-Hodis's strategic growth plan despite recent financial challenges.

Points: - Castro-Hodis signs a five-year deal to import and distribute Chinese sports brand ANTA in Israel. - The investment totals about 30 million shekels, with operations starting in 2027. - ANTA is a major Chinese sportswear company with $11.6 billion revenue and 10,000+ stores in China. - ANTA holds a 29% stake in Puma and leads China's sports apparel market over Nike and Adidas. - Castro-Hodis aims to grow beyond fashion amid tough competition from Nike, Adidas, and Decathlon. - CEO Yair Ohayon calls the move a strategic growth initiative despite recent financial setbacks.

Topic: economy

Entities: {"people":["Yair Ohayon","Ding Shizhong"],"organizations":["Castro-Hodis Group","ANTA","Nike","Adidas","Puma","FILA","Amer Sports","Fox-Wizel","Electra Consumer Products","Decathlon"],"places":["Israel","China","Hong Kong"]}