Adidas to close Stoughton, Norwood facilities

Athletic footwear and apparel maker Adidas Group, which also owns the Canton-based Reebok brand, today said it will consolidate five Adidas and Reebok distribution centers, a move that will cut 375 jobs.

Adidas's apparel distribution center in Hebron, Ky., and its footwear distribution center in Spartanburg, S.C., along with Reebok brand's apparel distribution center in Memphis, and its footwear distribution centers in Stoughton and Norwood, will be consolidated into a new center in Spartanburg, S.C., by fall 2009.

The company said the move will strengthen the group's competitive position and help the integration of Adidas and Reebok.

Germany's Adidas acquired Reebok International Ltd. in August 2005 for $3.8 billion.

The Memphis and Hebron centers are expected to remain in operation until fall 2008. The Stoughton, Norwood, and Spartanburg centers will remain until fall 2009.

The company's facilities in Mattapoisett and Lancaster are not involved in the consolidation.
(AP)