'The Athlete's Foot' to create 28 jobs in 2016

Áine Doyle, and Manager Tom Maher, The Athletes Foot. Pic Darragh Kane

Michael Cogley

Global sports retailer The Athlete's Foot (TAF) is coming to Ireland and plans to open four new stores this year creating 28 jobs.

The first TAF store will open at 120 Oliver Plunkett Street in Cork on Thursday and currently employs three full-time staff and four part-time staff.

TAF has opened 471 stores in 26 countries and the Irish franchise has been secured by Elverys Intersport.

"We are delighted to have acquired The Athlete’s Foot franchise for Ireland, and to bring great style and new ranges to consumers here.

"We expect to have three more TAF stores opening in the coming months nationally, creating an additional 28 new jobs," said Elverys Intersport senior marketing manager Anne-Marie Hanly.

It is understood the extra three store openings will happen in the coming months.

TAF specialises in sneakers and sells brands ranging from New Balance and Nike to Puma and New Era.

TAF store manager for Cork Tom Maher said he was excited to be opening on "the greatest street in the UK and Ireland".

"We’re really excited about the Cork store, and bringing really stylish sportswear, as well as exclusives in Ireland such as the Rihanna Puma line, to the market here.”

The retailer was originally set up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1971 before being acquired by Swiss-based Intersport in 2012.