Rossignol sells outdoor performance brands Vertical, Raidlight

By

Olivier Guyot

Translated by
Nicola Mira

Published
Aug 25, 2020

On August 22, long-established French sport apparel and equipment group Rossignol presented its Outdoor Experiences hub in Arzon, on the Gulf of Morbihan, in Brittany. Outdoor Experiences, featuring a trail running area and the R-Bikes MTB facility, is an outdoor leisure centre part of the group's tourism solutions, whose services Rossignol is keen to boost.

This is why the group is retaining the Outdoor Experiences division, having sold outdoor performance brands Vertical and Raidlight at the beginning of August. Rossignol bought Vertical and Raidlight, together with Outdoor Experiences, in 2016.

Raidlight was co-founded by Benoît Laval in the Alpine town of Saint-Pierre de Chartreuse, near Grenoble, in 1999, and specialises in trail and road running equipment. In 2010, the company bought hiking, trekking and mountaineering specialist Vertical. At the time, the Rossignol group took an interest in Raidlight-Vertical, keen to add a new seasonal dimension to its main focus, skiing equipment and apparel. Laval remained with Rossignol for a few years after the sale of Raidlight-Vertical, and left the group in early 2019 because of differences in strategic vision. Last October, negotiations began between Rossignol and Laval for the purchase of the Raidlight factory, and ended with Laval buying back both Raidlight and Vertical.

The Rossignol group has indicated that, in order to ensure a smooth transition, it will continue to offer administrative, logistical and technology support. At the same time, it said it is re-focusing its business on the Rossignol brand.

“The Rossignol group has greatly expanded its product range in markets which, 20 years ago, were in their infancy, and which are now enjoying steadfast success. The acquisition of Raidlight-Vertical in 2016 was consistent with this approach, representing a shift of our winter-focused model towards a four-season strategy covering mountain activities throughout the year. With the Rossignol brand, we are currently offering mountain enthusiasts a choice of footwear, apparel and technical equipment to support them in their pursuits,” said Rossignol’s President Bruno Cercley. “Additionally, we have great faith in the Outdoor Experiences division, a huge asset for our group. It enables us to enhance our relationship with customers by providing, besides equipment, a series of recognised facilities for them to enjoy their activities to the full,” he added.

The Rossignol group’s brand portfolio also includes Dynastar, Lange, Look, Risport and Dale of Norway. In 2019, the group generated a revenue of approximately €370 million.