The world’s largest branded athletic and casual footwear manufacturer and retailer Yue Yuen Industrial says retail and wholesale sales of sportswear in Greater China rose 19.6 per cent in the first nine months of this year, due to an expanding store network.

Yue Yuen operates more than 6000 retail stores and concessions across Greater China under its own name as well as the international brands it manufactures for.

Total sportswear sales reached US$1.7 billion compared to US$1.456 billion in the same period last year. Other factors in the growth were the company’s efforts to increase efficiency and a better merchandise selection.

Sales of athletic shoes were up by 3.4 per cent and sales of casual shoes were down by 5.6 per cent. The total volume of shoes sold increased by just 1.1 per cent to 231.4 million pairs for the period.

Hong Kong listed Yue Yuen designs and makes shoes for brands including Nike, Crocs, Adidas, Reebok, Asics, New Balance, Puma, Timberland and Rockport as well as operating its own network of retail stores under the YY Sports brand, through subsidiary Pou Shen.

The increased athletic shoes and sportswear sales helped boost Yue Yuen’s overall revenue by 5.8 per cent to US$6.3 billion and gross profit by 9.1 per cent to $1.422 billion. Total net profit attributable to owners of the company was $285.6 million, up 36.6 per cent year on year, according to figures filed with the stock exchange.

Pou Shen, which opened 771 new points of sale during the nine months, increased its gross profit by 32.5 per cent to $566.5 million due to management’s strategy to concentrate on the retail business, improved operating efficiency, and better procurement of inventory.