DHL Global Forwarding supports Decathlon’s international supply chain

DHL Global Forwarding offers support to Decathlon’s international supply chain

At the DHL Fashion and Retail Conference held in Ho Chi Minh City, both companies shared what it takes to successfully operate a multi-national supply chain, enabling Decathlon stores to stock over 22,400 items covering more than 85 different types of sports.

Marc Meier, SVP, Global Head of International Supply Chain, DHL Global Forwarding, said, “DHL Global Forwarding runs a dedicated DHL control tower which provides a single point of contact in Vietnam and Taiwan for Decathlon’s operations. Providing full visibility for Decathlon’s logistics teams, our control tower services oversee Decathlon’s air, sea, and road shipments from factories in Vietnam and Taiwan to the world, including Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Europe, India, Malaysia, Morocco, and Singapore.”

Global businesses that source from multiple locations and ship to numerous destinations face a particularly complex supply chain that demands greater visibility and control to optimise operations and reduce costs. With more than 1,000 supply chain experts across 82 offices in 46 countries worldwide, DHL’s International Supply Chain services offer comprehensive solution design and project management backed by a global governance structure that guarantees consistency across operations.

“Decathlon prioritises the quality of our products and the entire customer experience to ensure we secure our positioning as the go-to retailer of affordable sports apparel, accessories, and equipment. While we ramp up our offline and online presence for the convenience of our customers, we are working hard behind-the-scenes to make sure that our manufacturing and logistics processes can efficiently cater to the demand of our discerning customers,” said Thao Nguyen, head of Procurement and Logistics, Decathlon Vietnam.

In Vietnam, Decathlon launched two retail stores in Hanoi and Ho Chi Min City in 2019, spanning 4,300 square metres and 2,600sq.m respectively, and introduced 70 sports brands. The company collaborates with six business partners across Vietnam to keep prices and lead time competitive for the local market and to reduce carbon footprint. As a full-fledged logistics partner, DHL Global Forwarding also provides road freight solutions for the brand to transport goods from Vietnam to Cambodia.

Vietnam’s attractiveness as a manufacturing hub for the world lies in its geo-strategic location, youthful demographics, and abundance of affordable land and labour. Coupled with easy access to multiple markets via free trade agreements, the country’s textile and retail industry is primed for growth as Vietnamese spending power increases and more international brands seek to establish their presence here.

"Today’s retailers require agile and innovative supply chains to cater to a new generation of customers who demand instant gratification and tap into opportunities in emerging markets. With our extensive range of logistics services and expertise in the retail sector, DHL Global Forwarding is well-positioned to support the growth of businesses here,” said Archer Fu, VP, Head of Business Development, DHL Global Forwarding Asia-Pacific.