The Unicorn Group has acquired the Molten distributorship in the UK and Ireland for all the brand’s ball products and sports accessories.
Based in Kent, Unicorn Group currently comprises Unicorn Darts, Gunn & Moore and PowerGlide.
The family owned business has a wide distribution network in the UK through high street sports shops, Intersport, STAG, Sports Direct and Argos, as well as the likes of Asda, Sainsbury’s and Tesco.
As part of the deal and to ensure a smooth transfer of operations, Bob Hope, the current owner of the Molten UK and Ireland distributorship, is to assist the Unicorn Group in a consultancy role for an initial period.
“Molten is one of the world’s top sports brands and manufactures a fantastic range of quality sports balls and sporting equipment,” says Edward Lowy, managing director of the Unicorn Group.
“Bob has done a fantastic job establishing a firm base for the brand in the UK and Ireland and we shall be building on that to distribute Molten more widely across UK and Irish retail sports channels.
“The Unicorn sales team, both out in the field and in our customer service and distribution centre in Nottingham, is eagerly looking forward to discussing the benefits of stocking a broader range of Molten product with our customers.”
Bob Hope, an ex-professional basketball coach and GB Olympic team manager, adds: “The Unicorn Group is far and away the best possible company to have acquired the UK and Ireland Molten distributorship.
“Not only is it a family owned business with excellent credentials and an outstanding track record in the sports industry but, similar to Molten, it is also passionate about sport and dedicated to manufacturing and developing quality sports products.
“With Unicorn’s excellent distribution network in the UK, awareness of the Molten brand and sales of its products can only increase exponentially in the coming years.”
Hope represented the Molten brand since 2004, building it up to where it is today – the official ball for almost all the leading UK and Ireland basketball organisations, as well as UK university sports organisations.
He says: “Having reached retirement age, it is time for me to step aside and hand over the day to day mantle of distributorship to new, capable hands.
“However, this does not mean saying goodbye completely as, happily, I shall continue to be involved with the Unicorn Group over the next year or so.”
