Anta Takes 29% Stake in Puma and Opens US Flagship in Beverly Hills

Anta has taken a 29% stake in Puma and opened its first US flagship store in Beverly Hills, marking a clear step toward becoming a global sportswear brand.

Anta was founded in 1991 in Jinjiang, Fujian, as a contract maker for international shoe brands. The city’s specialization in footwear gave Anta access to a dense network of suppliers for laces, soles and fabrics.

By the mid‑2000s Anta had built a nationwide retail chain of over 10,000 stores in China and began sponsoring athletes such as freestyle skier Eileen Gu. In 2007 it listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, raising roughly HKD3.5 billion.

The proceeds funded acquisitions of outdoor labels Arc’teryx and Salomon, expanding Anta’s portfolio beyond its own label. These moves laid the groundwork for the company’s ambition to compete directly with Nike and Adidas.

Chairman Ding Shizhong said, “We don’t want to be the Nike of China, but the Anta of the world,” underscoring the goal of becoming a global brand.

To support that aim, Anta acquired a 29% stake in Puma this year, stating the investment will help Puma accelerate its growth in China.

In February Anta opened its first US flagship store on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, covering roughly 2,000 square feet.

The minority share gives Anta a seat at Puma’s strategic table, allowing it to influence product mix and marketing priorities for the Chinese market.

Puma benefits from Anta’s deep distribution network and local market insight, while Anta gains exposure to Puma’s design expertise and global brand equity.

The Beverly Hills location serves as a physical showcase for Anta’s own brands and its partnered labels, offering US consumers a direct experience of the company’s product range.

Situated in a high‑traffic luxury district, the store also tests Anta’s ability to compete with established Western retailers on their home turf.

Together, the equity stake and the flagship store signal Anta’s transition from a behind‑the‑scenes manufacturer to a consumer‑facing player with global aspirations.

Industry observers note that the combination could strengthen Anta’s supply‑chain leverage and improve its bargaining power with factories across Asia.

Watch for Anta’s next moves in expanding its US retail footprint and how it leverages the Puma partnership to drive sales growth in China over the next 12‑18 months.