JD Sports, the parent company of Hibbett Sports, announced plans to close 175 underperforming Hibbett stores across the United States over the next three years as part of a significant North American reorganization and cost-cutting strategy [1]. JD Sports acquired Hibbett in 2024 for approximately $1.1 billion, aiming to strengthen its presence in the North American footwear market [1]. At the time of the acquisition, Hibbett operated 1,169 stores in 36 states as of May 2024 [1].
JD Sports CEO Regis Schultz stated during the company's fourth quarter earnings call that the company's strategic focus is on driving store productivity and optimizing its store estate, referencing a net reduction of 39 stores in the previous year as part of a 'fewer, bigger, and better store strategy' [1]. Schultz further explained that in North America, JD Sports will leverage best practices to optimize EBIT store footprint and profitability, which includes closing around 170 underperforming EBIT stores over the next three years [1].
JD Sports CFO Dominic Platt added that the group plans to open about 20 new JD stores and convert between 70 to 80 Finish Line stores to JD locations in North America, with the overall group store count expected to remain broadly flat for the year when including European operations [1]. As of February 2025, there were 999 Hibbett stores, which declined to 982 by the end of January 2026 following the consolidation after the acquisition [1].
JD Sports' stock is down about 1.7% year to date but is up approximately 1.8% over the last year [1]. The announcement follows similar moves by competitors, as Foot Locker also revealed store closure plans in November after its $2.4 billion acquisition by Dick's Sporting Goods in September 2025, though specific closure numbers for Foot Locker were not provided [1].
CONCLUSION
JD Sports' decision to close 175 Hibbett stores reflects a strategic shift toward optimizing profitability and store productivity in North America. While the overall store count is expected to remain stable due to new openings and conversions, the closures signal ongoing consolidation in the retail footwear sector. The market reaction has been modest, with JD Sports' stock showing slight year-to-date declines but a small gain over the past year.