French sports good company Decathlon has partnered with real estate company China Vanke for further expansion.

The agreement will see Decathlon renting or buying properties in Vanke’s commercial projects in lower-tier cities such as Dongguan and Foshan to set up stores.

“It’s a win-win situation for both parties. Decathlon can lower their costs on finding good store locations, and Vanke has a famous brand to lease their property,” said Wang Hongtao, a press officer and industry expert from the China Chain Store and Franchise Association.

Decathlon says it will open more than 90 stores, targeting around 150 stores by 2015. Since its foray in the mainland in 2003, it has grown its network to 57 stores currently.

“Around a third of our China sales come from first-tier city stores, but smaller cities will be the drivers of our growth,” said Decathlon China VP Bertrand Tison.

From being its fourth largest market after France, Spain and Italy, Tison said it aim to make China its third largest market in the next five years.