The retailer Hervis sold its operations in Romania and Hungary due to financial losses and the market's shift from sports to fast fashion.

The sports equipment retailer Hervis, part of the Spar group from Austria, has decided to sell its operations in Romania and Hungary to the British company Fraser. The official reason cited is that the markets in these countries are more oriented towards fashion than towards sports, in contrast to the company's main markets in Austria, Slovenia, and Croatia. However, sources from the Austrian press suggest that the sale was also driven by the significant financial losses of the parent company, which reported a loss of 43 million euros in 2024. In Romania, Hervis recorded losses of 41.3 million lei last year and has had negative results for five years, accumulating total losses of over 77 million lei. Additionally, sales have steadily declined over the past two years. Ulrich Hanfeld, the CEO of Hervis, stated that the sale will allow the company to focus on developing its portfolio in the main markets. Currently, Hervis has 49 stores in Romania but has lost ground to competitors, ranking fifth in the local sports equipment market, behind leader Decathlon and other competitors.