Dutch supermarket chain Jumbo has reacted to reports that it may end its backing of the Jumbo-Visma team, telling Cyclingnews it is considering if its “sponsorship policy still matches our vision and ambitions and the needs of our customers.”
Jumbo confirmed to Cyclingnews that current sponsorship with the cycling team ends in 2024. They said their intention is to remain associated with the team in the future but did not specify if this will be in a lead title sponsor role.
Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad suggested Jumbo could become a co-sponsor rather than leave the team and the sport. Visma is a major European software company and could perhaps step-up to fill Jumbo’s position, while other brands have become sponsors of the team after Van Aert’s prominence in the Classics and Jonas Vingeggard’s Tour de France victory.
Jumbo is a privately owned family company with a turnover of in excess of €10 billion across its Dutch and Belgian supermarkets has been the main sponsor of the Jumbo-Visma cycling and skating team since 2015.
The women’s and men’s cycling squad – which the group has a contract with through to the end of 2024 – includes Marianne Vos, Wout van Aert and Primoz Roglič. The team also topped the men’s rankings and won the Tour de France with Jonas Vingegaard in 2022. Jumbo also sponsors ice skating in the Netherlands and Formula 1 via Dutch pilot and current world champion Max Verstappen.
“We are working together on a long-term successful future for Team Jumbo-Visma and it is our intention to remain associated with the team in the future,” Jumbo told Cyclingnews.
“Jumbo is currently looking at its positioning. We are also looking at whether our sponsorship policy still matches our vision and ambitions and the needs of our customers. Our current sponsorship agreement with Team Jumbo-Visma runs until the end of 2024. As soon as there is something to report, Jumbo will do so.”
Algemeen Dagblad report on Jumbo’s possible change in sponsorship strategy comes after turbulent times for Jumbo.
The supermarket has already withdrawn much of its sponsorship from motorsport after the Public Prosecution Service launched an investigation into money laundering. Former General Director Frits van Eerd was detained for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation and resigned from his position at the company. Jumbo commissioned a fact-finding investigation saying in their annual report that “No criminal offences within Jumbo have emerged from…
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