War in Ukraine: after Nike and Puma, Adidas in turn suspends its activities in Russia

The German group manages around 500 stores in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and employs nearly 7,000 people there.

This Adidas store in a large shopping center in Moscow will close its doors after the decision, on March 8, 2022, of the German firm to temporarily freeze its activities in Russia, following the war in Ukraine. (EVGENY BIYATOV / SPUTNIK)

The German sports equipment manufacturer Adidas announced in turn, on Tuesday March 8, the temporary freezing of its activities in Russia, after similar decisions already taken by its rivals Nike and Puma.

“ We have decided to suspend operations of our stores and e-commerce site in Russia until further notice ,” the three-stripes brand said in a message on its LinkedIn page posted Monday evening. The group will continue to pay its employees on the spot, he adds.

3% of its sales in the CIS in 2020

Adidas operates in an area comprising Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), including Ukraine, around 500 own stores, out of nearly 2,200 worldwide and employs nearly 7,000 people there, according to data communicated to the AFP. The brand achieved almost 3% of its sales in 2020 in this set, while the figures for the 2021 financial year will be revealed on Wednesday.

The group from Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, overall has a long history with Russia, where it has dressed sports teams since the 1960s and founded a subsidiary in 1992, after the breakup of the Soviet Union.

" We are monitoring the situation very closely and will take further business decisions if necessary ," Adidas said.