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Sports and entertainment catering business, Levy UK + Ireland, has announced its strategic expansion into the realm of sports merchandising with the introduction of ‘Levy Merchandising’.
Levy UK+I says this bold move marks a “significant milestone as it diversifies its portfolio to bring fans an even more immersive experience”.
It added that the decision to enter the merchandising market aligns with the company’s wider vision to create memorable experiences and engage with fans on a broader scale.
Levy Merchandising will design and manufacture a wide range of sportswear from technical products, fit for the highest level of performance, through to non-technical fanwear. The company will also produce a comprehensive range of souvenirs and accessories. In line with Levy’s strong commitment to supporting local communities and working with charities and outreach programmes, all products will be ethically sourced from factories who have undergone stringent audit processes.
Vinny Clark, has been brought in to head up Levy Merchandising and brings with him 20 years of experience in sports licensing and retail, having worked at sports apparel giant, Fanatics, and more recently Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club as General Manager for Commercial Operations. He has seen first-hand, both as a rights holder and a rights acquirer, how sports licensing partnerships work and wants to ensure a “partner first” approach, building long lasting, sustainable relationships. With an innovative commercial model, decision making is a joint responsibility, with partners retaining control on key strategic direction whilst benefiting from the scale and expertise of the Levy Merchandising central teams across buying, licensing, ecommerce, and retail operations.
Clark said: “Levy UK + Ireland has built a reputation for excellence, quality, and innovation, so I’m thrilled to be part of this exciting new chapter. The Levy Merchandising arm will build on the legendary experiences Levy has provided over decades in the food, drink, and hospitality arenas.
“Our aim is simple – to make the lives of our partners easier, to bring the best product to market for fans to enjoy, to offer better and fairer commercial frameworks to rights holders and all whilst protecting the interests of partner fans, our people, and our planet. Taking Levy best practice and utilising tech, innovation, and data insights from within the Group, we are ready to change the game.”
Jon Davies, Managing Director, Levy UK + Ireland, added: “The expansion into merchandising represents a natural progression for Levy UK + Ireland. We are trusted in the sporting world and will take learnings from our successful F&B portfolio to enhance the service within the merchandise sector.”
