JD Sports Fashion Plc, a Manchester-based retailer of sport fashion and footwear, has acquired Lille-based sports retailer Chausport SA for €8 million (£7 million).

JD Sports Fashion Plc, a Manchester-based retailer of sport fashion and footwear, has acquired Lille-based sports retailer Chausport SA for €8 million (£7 million).

Chausport was founded in 1980 and has 78 stores across France. For the year ended 31 December 2007, Chausport reported a turnover of €40.7 million and pre-tax profits of  €600,000.

Peter Cowgill, executive chairman of JD, said: “We are very pleased to announce the acquisition of Chausport, which will give us a foothold in a new and sizeable European market. By drawing on the current management team’s expertise, we are confident that this acquisition will bring both financial and strategic benefits in the future.”

In the year ended 31 January 2009, JD Sports reported an increase in turnover of 13 per cent to £670.9 million, with pre-tax profits up nine per cent to £38.2 million.