Registry
Does Decathlon support Israel?
Yes — Decathlon has documented support for Israel on record. Every claim below links to its source.
Filed under: Retail & supermarket chains · Fashion & apparel brands · Companies that support Israel
Background
Decathlon is a privately held French retailer controlled by the Mulliez family. Its link to Israel is commercial: a store network opened in 2017 and run directly by its Israeli subsidiary until the 2025 handover to a local franchisee. No donation, humanitarian pledge, sponsorship or statement of support for Israel by Decathlon has been documented, and no Israeli political or defence tie appears in its public record. Decathlon is not named on the BDS movement's official targeted-boycott list, although the Israeli store network is the reason the brand circulates on unofficial boycott directories — those stores are the verified fact, and since September 2025 they are operated by an Israeli franchisee rather than by Decathlon itself.
Calcalist CTech Decathlon Israel (official site) BDS movement — official boycott targets list (Decathlon absent)
Timeline of documented support
Documented support
| Type | Date | Amount | Recipient | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operations in Israel | 2017-08 | — | Decathlon stores in Israel (company-operated, first store at the G Complex, Rishon LeZion) French sporting-goods retailer Decathlon entered the Israeli market in 2017, opening its first store — then described as the country's largest sporting-goods store — at the G Complex in Rishon LeZion, and expanded to 11 branches plus a local e-commerce site and logistics operation. Unlike most international chains in Israel, these stores were run directly by Decathlon's own Israeli subsidiary rather than by a local franchisee, which makes the Israeli retail operation a direct investment of the parent company. From 2024 Decathlon shrank the footprint, cutting floor space by about a third in Netanya and Petah Tikva and replacing its Allenby Street store in Tel Aviv with a smaller Decathlon City concept store in the Azrieli mall. This is commercial retail activity, not a donation or statement of political support. | |
| Partnership | 2025-09 | — | Israeli franchisee George Horesh (also the local franchise holder for H&M) As part of a global shift from company-owned stores to franchising, Decathlon put its Israeli operation up for sale in 2025 — inventory from the 11 branches plus their leases, valued in reporting at roughly NIS 100 million (about $28 million) — with Israeli retail figures George Horesh, the Movement/Bashgal Sport group and the Fox Group named as candidates. Calcalist reported on 10 September 2025 that Horesh won the Israeli franchise rights, and the chain moved to franchise operation, with the buyer planning further store openings. Decathlon therefore keeps the Israeli market through a brand-and-royalty relationship, while day-to-day retail passes to an Israeli operator; no donation or political commitment is involved. |
Frequently asked questions
Did Decathlon donate money to Israel or Israeli causes?
We have no records of cash donations, but Decathlon has documented support of other kinds (Operations in Israel, Partnership). See the records on this page.
Where does this information come from?
Every record on this page links to its source — news reports, official company statements, tax filings, or government records. 5 distinct sources are cited for Decathlon. Our methodology page explains the full verification process.
Sources & citations
Record last updated: 2026-07-30
- Calcalist CTech calcalistech.com
- Globes en.globes.co.il
- Decathlon Israel (official site) decathlon.co.il
- Hebrew Wikipedia — Decathlon (citing Calcalist, 10 Sept 2025, on the Horesh franchise deal) he.wikipedia.org
- BDS movement — official boycott targets list (Decathlon absent) bdsmovement.net