(Yicai Global) Dec. 18 -- Chinese sporting goods retailer Sanfo Outdoor Products will become the sole distributor of Italian sportswear maker La Sportiva's products in China.

Sanfo’s Jiangsu province-based unit has penned a deal to become the only firm to sell La Sportiva products in China's mainland for four years, the Beijing-based parent said in a statement yesterday.

Sanfo has lately been widening its international aura in China by adding brands of foreign firms such as Swiss mountain sports retailer Mammut, high-tech sports products maker X-Bionic, and American backpack brand Mystery Ranch to its sales catalogs.

La Sportiva is popular in China and abroad so the cooperation should help Sanfo expand its influence to increase its sales and gross profit margin, the Chinese partner said.

Founded in 2018, La Sportiva produces clothing and apparel for hiking, running and rock climbing. It sells more than 2 million pairs of sports shoes in 74 countries around the world each year, the statement added.

Sanfo’s stock price [SHE:002780] rose 1.4 percent to CNY18.04 (USD2.80) this morning.

Editor: Emmi Laine