KENT,
Wash. (April 16, 2013) – Officials from Accell Group NV, a leading
global bicycle company based in the Netherlands, announce the formalization of
a new entity: Accell North America.
Accell North America is a collection of
stand-alone companies that will operate in a collaborative and integrated
manner, sharing efficiencies and synergies of the global parent company, the
Accell Group NV (AG). The resulting entity will further the profitability and
value equation of specialty retail partnership tailored for North American
IBD’s. The independent companies comprising Accell North America include:
- Raleigh America (Raleigh and Diamondback)
- Raleigh Canada
- Seattle Bike Supply (Redline, Torker, XLC)
- Currie Technologies (iZip)
- Lapierre North America
AG is Europe’s leading specialty bicycle supplier
offering a strong portfolio of complementary, independent bicycle and accessory
brands and a proven, successful retail partnership strategy. AG is the leading
e-bike supplier globally.
Raleigh Cycles, Ltd., joined the AG portfolio in
April 2012. Since that time, the Dutch company invested in the business
platform of Raleigh America, enabling it to become one of North America’s
fastest growing bike companies. This was achieved by the prioritization of
product innovation, multi-brand assortment, proven retail partner profitability
and customer service. The next step, according to Jeroen Snijders Blok, COO of
Accell Group NV, is to tailor the successful European AG approach for the North
American market.
“Simulating our success in Europe, Accell North America’s leadership team will
work in a highly collaborative manner while retaining and furthering the
independence of the brands and companies creating the new platform. The result
will be a multi-brand opportunity that will yield a more efficient and profitable
partnership model coordinating back-end capabilities to enhance benefits to the
IBD on the front end,” said Snijders Blok.
The launch process for the new entity is well underway. All of the companies
and brands comprising Accell North America are operational and well established
in North America. What’s more, the Raleigh America sales force can now
collaborate with SBS to offer a complete parts and accessories collection
exclusively to dealers. The move brings established dealers greater selection
and efficiencies in the buying process while concurrently enabling SBS to have
an established outside sales force for the first time.
Other key changes around the transition to Accell North America that are
already in process involve changes and additions to its new leadership team. In
addition to Steve Meineke’s announcement as CEO, Chris Speyer will move from his role
as Executive Vice President of Product and Marketing for Raleigh America, to
become the Chief Operating Officer of Accell Group North America. Sharon
Robinson will serve as CFO of Accell North America.
A new division has also been established for Lapierre North America, led by
Kirk Bauch as the Director of Sales and Marketing and Lorna Schouten as
Marketing Manager.
Greg Blackwell was also announced as the President of SBS in January of this
year. Larry Pizzi will continue to serve Currie Technologies as President.
Dave
Taylor will lead
Raleigh Canada’s sales efforts to engage the IBD retailer. George Simone was
recently promoted
to Raleigh America National Sales Director.
“This is the next era of opportunity for
our dealers to unify our combined companies under
the powerhouse of Accell North America,” said Meineke, CEO of Accell
North America. “We are actively working to solidify the foundation that’s
needed to create the next era of a profitable, authentic IBD solution based on
multiple, independent brands.”
More infrastructure changes and
efficiencies drawn from AG will be integrated into Accell North America and
announced to IBD partners through Q2 and Q3, 2013, respectively. Specifically,
IBD partners will realize:
- Dealer benefits package that offers rewards support for partnering with Accell North America brands and companies
- Combined purchasing and sourcing capabilities, which will enhance buying power and on-time delivery of bicycles and parts/accessories
- Combined, negotiated freight rates – both inbound and outbound – to dealers of all Accell North America companies and brands
- A shared, and efficient, IT, logistics and warehousing platform
- Business-to-business planning and synergies
- Product development resources and service-center capabilities by Currie Technologies for e-bikes
“As a team, Accell North America’s leadership shares an unwaivering commitment toward one shared goal,” said Meineke. “We exist to bring a next generation profit making retail partnership model for our valued dealers through scaling our proven friendly, flexible and service-driven approach to doing business. We will bring choice, innovation, service and success to our IBD partners with a new, multi-brand partnership model in January 2014.”
Details of the new Accell North America will be unveiled to dealers at
DealerCamp in July, and to the industry at Interbike in September.
About Accell North America:
Accell North America is committed to leading in cycling innovation in product,
brand and specialty business practices to grow Independent Bicycle Retail in
North America. Accell North America is the North American business entity of
Accell Group, NV, Europe’s leading bicycle company. Accell North America,
located in Kent, Wash., is completely focused on growing the specialty bike
business by providing excellence in customer service, product innovation,
profitability and brand marketing on the regional and national level.
Media Contact: Kristin Carpenter-Ogden, Verde PR, kco@verdepr.com, 970.259.3555