Decathlon's key dates

The first DECATHLON store opens.
Michel Leclercq invents a new concept. A store entirely dedicated to all sports under the same roof. 
The first self-service superstore opens its doors in Englos, near Lille, France.

The famous "TULULUTUTU jingle is composedTULULUTUTU" and the slogan "SPORTS FOR ALL!"

DECATHLON integrates its own logistics by opening its first warehouse at Villeneuve d’Ascq, France. Before that, each store was directly supplied by suppliers. 

DECATHLON broadcasts its first TV ad with Tarzan, its first advertising hero! 

Watch the ad:

The Manufacturing division is established with the aim of dealing with designing and manufacturing DECATHLON labelled sports goods. One of the first products made is a bike frame. 

DECATHLON opens its first store outside France, in Dortmund, Germany.

In France, logistics continues to expand, opening an 8,000 sq. m warehouse in Vitrolles, France.

The creation of TROCATHLON events by a DECATHLON teammate, Gilles, allows customers to sell and buy second-hand equipment from each other. 

Jean-Dominique, a DECATHLON teammate, establishes the Ecole Des Métiers (a training centre) to meet the training needs of all teams. Since then, this in-house training institute, now called Échanges DECATHLON, is where all our teammates inevitably stop off!

First product packaging with an eco-designed approach.

First DECATHLON brands established: TRIBORD for water sports and QUECHUA for mountain sports.

The industrial division is established to optimise the manufacturing process. 

Store No 121, Porte des Alpes, opens its doors, near Lyon, France. It will become in 2011 our biggest French store with 12,800 sq. m surface area.

We launch the B’TWIN 5 bike, a compromise between a mountain bike and a city bike, and whose slogan is "just as at ease everywhere as anywhere".

Opening of the first QUECHUA design centre: three years only after launching the brand, the fifteen or so people that made up the team, moved to Domancy, in the French Alpes. In 2014, a new site opened its doors, designed using an environmentally friendly approach: a unique space with a 10,000 sq. m surface area in which sports users can interact directly with design teams.

We inaugurate the “Human Responsibility in Manufacturing” charter and conduct first audits of our suppliers.

We put in place the “winning teammates” survey: an in-house indicator assessing teammates' satisfaction.

Creation of “Échanges DECATHLON”, the in-house training centre. 

QUECHUA creates the famous “Pop up tent”. This product symbolises the whole company approach to innovation. 

DECATHLON crosses a new frontier by entering Russia! The first store opens in the north of Moscow. An opening that reinforces the retail brand presence in Eastern Europe after Poland 6 years beforehand. 

We establish the DECATHLON Foundation, investing in social integration projects around sport.

Arrival in store of the first products with an eco-design approach.

We launch, in November, the Koodza.fr e-commerce website, the forerunner of DECATHLON.fr

We become sustainable development pioneers in French retail parks when we open store No 450 in Saint-Quentin, France. It becomes our first test “environmental” store with its 4,500 sq. m surface area: rainwater management, the introduction of natural light (beneficial for both staff and customers) and, above all, we put an end to using the green carpet… it's no longer welcome (fossil fuel-based components, chemical additive glue). We switch to a concrete floor.

We establish the environmental leader network in our brands and our industrial processes.

The fitness & gym sports brand DOMYOS brings together its teams in the Domyos Centre in Marcq-en-Baroeul, France. 

Opening of a design centre and store dedicated to hunting, fishing and archery in Cestas, Gironde, France. .

In March, Koodza.fr becomes Decathlon.com. We launch e-reservations and allow customers to view stock in store.

We open the INESIS Golf Park for golf enthusiasts in Marcq-en-Baroeul, close to Lille, France.

Internalization of audits Human Responsibility in Manufacturing.

We create a position dedicated to Human Responsibility in Manufacturing.

The B’TWIN Village for cycling enthusiasts sees the light of day in Lille, France. 

In March, DECATHLON.com and DECATHLON.fr merge, providing greater
retail branding consistency and allowing our customers better understand our product range and make the best product choice.

First environmental certification for a DECATHLON store.

We launch experimentation of labelling products' environmental impact for our products.

DECATHLON writes 5 key commitments supporting sustainable development.

We conduct DECATHLON's first company-wide carbon footprint assessment.

We put in place an audit of building structures in Bangladesh.

In November: We launch the Click & Collect service. The following year, it becomes our customers' preferred delivery option.

We conduct first generalised on-site water treatment audits at our suppliers.

The DECATHLON.fr website reaches 145 millions visits.The physical boundaries of our stores are pushed back thanks to the Kiosk Plus. It provides customers with full access to our entire online product range.

The physical boundaries of our stores are pushed back thanks to the Kiosk Plus. It provides customers with full access to our entire online product range.

We reach the milestone of 1,000 stores with the opening of the Kexuedadao store, in China.

The KISPTA brand dedicated to team sports, opens the doors of its Kipstadium site in Tourcoing, near Lille, France. 

We put in place the RSB (Sustainable business together) project going beyond social compliance.

DECATHLON celebrates its 40th birthday!

Decathlon creates a multitude of new brands, better meeting the needs of its sports users. 

Sustainable development integrates the company's strategic vision.