The American sportswear brand Nike has decided not to prolong the agreement with its largest russian franchisee. Back in March, the company suspended all stores in russia in response to the war in Ukraine and said that continuing to operate stores is guided by independent partners, writes Reuters, citing the russian Vedomosti.
The head of stores in russia, Inventive Retail Group, through its subsidiary Up and Run, said Nike is no longer shipping to russia.
"Due to the stock depletion of goods, IRG will be forced to close all stores under this brand," said the president of the group.
They added that supplies have ceased and merchandise is in short supply, so Nike's mono-brand stores will close.
Up and Run operated 37 stores in russia, and 28 were still open, according to their website.
Global clothing brands have begun to withdraw from the russian market in response to russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The other day, the Center for Counteracting Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council reported a new fake by kremlin propagandists. They are spreading information that foreign companies are allegedly resuming their work in russia. In fact, russians may be making retail purchases of foreign goods and then selling them. However, there is no talk of centralized trade or supply of goods to a sub-sanctioned country.