NHL Enlists International Licensees, Retailers To Broaden Merchandise Offerings

The NHL has enlisted int'l licensees and retailers to broaden its merchandise offerings to hockey fans in Eastern Europe, Russia, Sweden, Germany, Finland and the U.K. Sales of merchandise in countries outside North America have steadily increased since '06, with average annual growth of 18% and revenue up by 225%. NHL-licensed products are now available outside North America via the following NHL int'l licensees: Sportmarket Nordic in the Nordic region and Russia, TShirt Store in the Nordic regions, Russia, Germany and the U.K., Almedahls in the Nordic region and Russia, Newtop in Finland, Sweden and Russia, LPP in Central and Eastern Europe and Russia, as well as Lassiaco Trading in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States and Atributika in Russia (NHL).