The recently released Italian book “Business in Franchising” by the Business & Retail editor features Athletes World Italy as one of Italy's success stories along with McDonalds, Geox, Blockbuster and the Home Entertainment chain and Midas, the car repair chain.

AW was launched in Italy in 1998 and started it's own franchising program in 2004. The retail chain now has 52 direct stores and 13 franchise stores with plans to open an additional 20 direct stores and 20 franchise stores by 2008. The minimum requirements for entrepreneurs and sport retailers to become an AW franchisee, on top of the retail expertise, is a well located store especially in historical centres with a minimum of 75,000 inhabitants, to employ at least a team of 4 in the store and to have an initial investment capacity of 150,000 Euro.

For more information about the AW Italy franchise program you can contact Mr. Gionata Mancini, AW Business Unit Director, at gionata.mancini@bata.com.