The European Outdoor Group (EOG) has shared details of plans for a major transformational programme, designed to boost the association’s capacity to support, serve and represent the outdoor industry. At the organisation’s General Assembly during ISPO, EOG President David Ekelund, Managing Director Christian Schneidermeier and their team, presented proposals to refresh and elevate work on ESG (environment, social impact and governance), engagement and public affairs, and market data projects.

Over 80 representatives from the EOG membership gathered for the meeting, which was held on 1 December at Messe Munich. Scheduling the event during ISPO helped to attract the highest attendance for several years, and the EOG team delivered a packed agenda. Christian Schneidermeier set the scene, reflecting on the evolution of the association from an organisation for 19 brands, to one with 158 members from every part of the value chain. In this context, he shared a vision for the ‘EOG 2.0’, which he has developed with the board and executive team since joining the organisation earlier this year.

The association’s future work will set out to deliver an updated mission, which is to add value to members and the whole sector by facilitating collaboration, and by advocating for policies that benefit the outdoor industry, all people, and the planet. Between now and 2027, the EOG will build its capacity to undertake a high profile, sustained programme of activity that is aligned to that mission. The association will do that directly and through enhanced advocacy work in the fields of business, conservation and activation, working with partners including the Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (FESI), the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) and the It’s Great Out There Coalition (IGOT).

During the meeting, Schneidermeier outlined proposed changes to the organisational structure of the EOG and its bylaws that will allow the board and executive team to more effectively lead projects across a core portfolio:

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ESG

Environment: Climate action and the circular economy

Social impact: Human rights due diligence and forced labour

Governance: Regulatory compliance, public affairs and responsible conduct

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Engagement

Communications: Marketing and PR; internal communication, member recruitment

Events and shows: European Outdoor Week with Outdoor, the Outdoor Impact Summit and the European Outdoor Awards; ISPO

The European Outdoor Academy: Education, webinars and visits; workshops

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Data‍

Market insights: The Outdoor Market Intelligence Service (OMIS)

Data platforms: The Sustainability Data Exchange (SDEX); European retail directory

Data projects: Consumer trends data; annual market reports; additional projects.

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At the meeting, EOG members voted unanimously to support the proposals. The executive team presented details of their recent work across association projects, and outlined future plans, aligned to the transformational programme.

One key update was from the Outdoor Market Intelligence Service, the association’s sell-out/sell-through data project, delivered through Sporting Insights. Now well established in the UK, OMIS went live in France earlier this year and will launch in Germany this month. The project provides real-time sell-out figures from key channels in the outdoor retail sector, including: Chains and independents; big-box and specialty; online and D2C. OMIS offers a valuable up to date insight into market trends, with three million SKUs in the database, covering 2,000 physical sales locations, with a value of over €5 billion on the dashboard (2023-2025), and with 1,000 brands represented. The ambition is to keep building on that platform, and replicate its success from market to market. Companies that would like to get involved in supplying data or subscribing to OMIS should contact Hannah Piatok at the EOG on hannah.piatok@europeanoutdoorgroup.com.

Christian Schneidermeier comments: “The EOG is the voice of the European outdoor sector and is its key platform for collaboration. The fact that we’ve been so successful in recruiting new members during the last year is evidence that the industry understands that, and needs it. We know that we have a responsibility to deliver, which is why we’ve worked so hard this year to develop a structure and strategy that is fit for purpose, and which has the capacity to supercharge the work of the association. OMIS is a great example of this. Our goal with the project is to provide the best sell-out market data available on the market, which will help our industry to take better decisions.”

During the EOG General Assembly, members were also given updates on plans for the two major international trade events that will be held in 2026. Benedetto Sironi of MagNet and Christian Schneidermeier spoke about European Outdoor Week, which will run from 14-19 May in Riva del Garda, Italy. Then Harald Kirchschlager of Messe Munich and Mike Seaman of Raccoon Media Group provided an insight into ISPO, which will take place from 3-5 November in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Christian Schneidermeier adds: “It was really important to have our partners in the room together. European Outdoor Week and ISPO will complement each other next year, delivering distinct, dynamic and highly relevant in-person events in the summer and winter seasons. The strategy and creativity that sit behind both projects reflect the energy and momentum that we are building within the European Outdoor Group.

“I was delighted that so many members joined us for our meeting, and the response in the room to our plans was hugely positive. Now let’s all work together and deliver, for the benefit of the whole industry.”