Fanatics has captured much of the sports merchandise market in the U.S., with the sports platform holding deals with leagues including the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL and MLS to sell all sorts of fan apparel, collectibles and jerseys.
The company, a three-time CNBC Disruptor 50 company, is increasingly setting its sights abroad, with its latest acquisition not only helping it further grow in Europe but also establishing another foothold in the global game of football.
Fanatics has acquired Italian sports merchandise company Epi for an undisclosed amount and will rebrand the Milan-based company as Fanatics Italy. The company operates the ecommerce, in-venue, physical retail store and third-party logistics for several of the top football clubs in Italy including AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus, as well as the Italian Football Federation, which oversees the Italian national team. The deal also includes NBA merchandise in the country.
The deal builds upon Fanatics’ existing presence in Europe and across the globe, which totals more than 60 offices, and manufacturing and distribution facilities. The company already has partnerships with top football clubs Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, as well as with the International Olympic Committee to oversee the creation of the first-ever global ecommerce site selling Olympics merchandise starting with the 2024 Summer Games in Paris.