DHL Global Forwarding, the leading international provider of air, sea and road freight services, partners Decathlon, the French sporting goods giant to provide comprehensive services for its international supply chain operation. At the DHL Fashion and Retail Conference held in Ho Chi Minh City, both companies shared what it takes to successfully operate a multi-national supply chain, enabling Decathlon stores to stock over 22,400 items covering more than 85 different types of sports.

Global businesses that source from multiple locations and ship to numerous destinations face a particularly complex supply chain that demands greater visibility and control to optimize operations and reduce costs. With more than 1,000 supply chain experts across 82 offices in 46 countries worldwide, DHL’s International Supply Chain services offer comprehensive solution design and project management backed by a global governance structure that guarantees consistency across operations.

In Vietnam, Decathlon launched two retail stores in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in 2019, spanning 4,300sqm and 2,600sqm respectively, and introduced 70 sports brands. The company collaborates with six business partners across Vietnam to keep prices and lead time competitive for the local market and to reduce carbon footprint. As a full-fledge logistics partner, DHL Global Forwarding also provides road freight solutions for the brand to transport goods from Vietnam to Cambodia.

Vietnam’s attractiveness as a manufacturing hub for the world lies in its geo-strategic location, youthful demographics and abundance of affordable land and labor. Coupled with easy access to multiple markets via free trade agreements, the country’s textile and retail industry is primed for growth as Vietnamese spending power increases and more international brands seek to establish their presence here.