Castro Partners with Rival Renuar to Launch Chinese Sports Brand ANTA in Israel

Castro Group announced a partnership with fashion competitor Renuar to jointly establish the Chinese sports brand ANTA in Israel, pending approval from the Israeli Competition Authority. This collaboration follows Castro's initial announcement about a month ago regarding plans to introduce ANTA to the Israeli market. The joint venture is expected to launch in 2027 with an initial investment of approximately 30 million shekels.

Under the agreement, Castro-Hodis will hold a 51% stake in the new subsidiary operating ANTA in Israel, Renuar will own 39%, and Israel Chen will hold the remaining 10% and serve as CEO. The company plans to operate through three channels: opening a retail chain, wholesale distribution, and an online sales platform.

To facilitate the launch, the joint venture will acquire assets from ING Sport Trading, a company co-owned by Renuar and managed by Israel Chen, which currently imports and distributes sports brands in Israel. This acquisition includes retail points, employees, and infrastructure, enabling the new venture to build on an existing operational base rather than starting from scratch.

ANTA is a major Chinese sportswear company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with over 10,000 stores in China and around 250 outlets internationally. In 2025, ANTA reported revenues of about $11.6 billion. It also controls Finnish Amer Sports and is the largest shareholder in Puma. The completion of the partnership and asset acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and other conditions, so the deal is not yet finalized.