Sales of bicycle maker Accell improve with mild weather

HEERENVEEN – Fair weather translates into favourable results for manufacturers of bicycles, Dutch investment firm Accell reported recently. The company which owns a list of well-known bicycle brand names, increased its sales by about 10 percent to about $750 million last year. The first six months when the weather was very mild, generated particularly very strong sales. Among other brands, the company owns Batavus, Sparta, Koga-Miyata and Loekie. An Accell unit also developed an electrical bicycle, the so called e-bike, five years ago. Dutch industry sources report that there are now 90,000 e-bikes in the Netherlands of which Accell has a market share of between 60 and 70 percent. Accell’s fitness division did not fare as well in 2006. A drop in attendance at fitness classes meant stagnant sales. Accell also is active with acquisitions in the USA, France and Germany, and recently purchased German mountain and racing bike manufacturer Ghost. The company is also looking to make acquisitions in other countries.