
US pizza chain Papa John’s makes first foray into Central Africa
Brand debuts in the DRC with an outlet in Kinshasa, complementing its existing African presence in Kenya, Egypt and Morocco.
BRAND STRATEGY
By our News Team | 2023
Long-established sports brand launches ‘Adidas Sportswear’ line to take on Nike for a bigger share of the global Generation Z audience.
In another example of how Gen Z consumers are influencing the marketing narrative globally, sports brand Adidas is this week launching its first new label in 50 years to target this fashion-conscious cohort.
According to the German-based company, which has been a sporting equipment and apparel powerhouse since the 1950s, its latest ‘Adidas Sportswear’ line is designed to complement the brand’s existing ‘Performance’ and ‘Originals’ offerings.
Spurs and South Korean footballer Son Heung-min is among the Adidas partners involved in the launch of the new brand. Photo courtesy of Adidas
In doing so, it is taking on American-based Nike for a more lucrative share of the growing Gen Z market and ultimately wants to be their brand of choice in this segment.
Adidas says it aims to enhance “the wearer’s everyday look with the same cutting-edge performance technology that has been used by the brand’s athletes for decades”. The new collection includes soccer jerseys, tracksuits and dresses for everyday wear.
Interestingly, the launch of the Sportswear line comes just months after Adidas ended its collaboration with celebrity Kanye West and his Yeezy brand, which is said to have brought in up to US$2-billion annually and was very popular with the Gen Z audience.
Adidas cut ties with West over anti-Jewish statements
However, West became increasingly controversial in his public stance and comments. In October last year, Adidas finally cut its ties with him over his anti-Jewish social media statements.
But this decision placed Adidas even further behind Nike in efforts to attract Gen Zeders.
“Nike is frequently ranked as the top sportswear brand among teen shoppers,” the publication Business Insider commented. “It made the top place for the 12th year running in Piper Sandler’s semi-annual ‘Taking Stock with Teens’ report in 2022, which surveyed 14,500 teens about their brand preferences.
“In the most recent release of the report, 31% of teens said Nike is their favourite brand, while just 3% picked Adidas.”
The publication added that Gen Z “is becoming a more important consumer group in retail as this age group enters the workforce and their spending power increases. As a result, brands have become more aggressive in targeting these shoppers”.
Adidas has signed young American actress Jenna Ortega as its new brand ambassador for the range. It is also involving other Adidas partners such as Tottenham Hotspur and South Korean football star Son Heung-min, basketball player Trae Young, female soccer player Mary Fowler, and gamer Carolina Voltan.
Brand debuts in the DRC with an outlet in Kinshasa, complementing its existing African presence in Kenya, Egypt and Morocco.
Confederation has fast-paced online Express Courses you can complete in a week, to in-depth studies taking up to 10 months.
World Bank report paints positive picture, but emphasises that enhancing ports and related infrastructure could boost GDP by 4-5%.
More consistent date labels and storage advice – along with bigger print and the use of simple icons – could save consumers money.
Proposed measures include banning advertisements on television, digital platforms and outdoor media when children are the primary audience.
Afoani leaves role as Head of Sales and Marketing – Africa at the IFFCO Group to become Senior Director for Coca-Cola Uplift – Africa.
MAZ unveils teen awards event, research survey and logo design competition – all promoting effective engagement with youth audiences.
CM(A) is a high-level pan-African professional designation awarded to senior marketers in recognition of their experiences and skills.
Boston Consulting Group study finds optimism over GenAI has risen markedly among marketing bosses, while concerns have dropped.
Public relations giant says it wants to provide more on-the-ground presence for its current and potential client base in Nigeria.
From 20 to 22 August 2025, the African Marketing Confederation (AMC) and the Technology Information Confederation Africa (TICON Africa) will host their annual conferences at the prestigious Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra, Ghana.
Dr. Kin Kariisa is an extraordinary force at the helm of Next Media Services, a conglomerate encompassing NBS TV, Nile Post, Sanyuka TV, Next Radio, Salam TV, Next Communication, Next Productions, and an array of other influential enterprises. His dynamic role as Chief Executive Officer exemplifies his unwavering commitment to shaping media, business, and community landscapes.
With an esteemed academic journey, Dr. Kariisa’s accolades include an Honorary PhD in exemplary community service from the United Graduate College inTexas, an MBA from United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya, a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Huazong University in China, and a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from Makerere University.
Dr. Kariisa pursued PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands. As a dynamic educator, he has shared his expertise as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at both Makerere University and Radboud University.
Dr Kin did his PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radbond University in Nigmegen, Netherlands. He previously served as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda and Radbond University in Netherlands.
Dr Kin did his postgraduate courses in Strategic Business Management, Strategic Leadership Communication and Strategies for Leading Successful Change Initiatives at Harvard University, Boston USA.