Cycling sector exhibits encouraging recovery signs according to Halfords, following various obstacles encountered
Halfords Thrives in a Challenging Cycling Industry
In the face of numerous hurdles that the cycling industry has encountered due to the Covid pandemic, British retail giant Halfords has emerged as a beacon of resilience. As the largest retailer in the UK bike industry, Halfords has managed its inventory effectively, ensuring a steady supply of bikes and cycling products.
According to the company's 2025 annual report, Halfords' profit before tax grew by 6.4%, marking a significant turnaround from the 25% year-on-year fall in profits recorded in the previous year. The report also revealed that the company posted a pre-tax profit of £38.4 million across all operations, up from £36.1 million the year before.
The bike sector, which had adopted the mantra "Survive to 25" during the pandemic, saw Halfords' bike revenue grow by 1.7% over the previous financial year, contributing to a total Retail revenue of £1,004.9 million. The growth in Retail came from both Motoring and bike sales.
In the bike division, Halfords' in-house brands Boardman and Carrera, along with new additions like E-Bike Vision, have been driving the growth. The company has also invested in more premium Boardman bikes and newly added the E-Bike Vision brand to its bike offerings, offering Bosch PowerPack 400 battery alternatives as Bosch discontinued that model in August 2025. The E-Bike Vision batteries are reliable, compatible, and provide more range.
Kids' bikes, Cycle2Work, and Tredz were the stronger categories in bike for the final months of the year, with bike performing ahead of expectations and accelerating through the second half of the year. This performance was praised by Halfords' chief financial officer Jo Hartley, who stated in the report that Halfords' bike outperformed predictions.
Halfords' disciplined approach to promotional activity during consolidation has also played a crucial role in its success. The company's services-led, specialist proposition resulted in like-for-like sales growth of 2.1% in Retail, further increasing its market share in the post-pandemic period.
In conclusion, Halfords' strategic management, investment in new products, and focus on key categories have helped it navigate the challenges of the bike industry and emerge as a leader in the sector.
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