By David Gold
October 5 – Ligue 1 outfit St Etienne has agreed a new two-year sponsorship deal with pet food and accessories chain Rapid Croq.
The deal will last for the next two seasons, and was concluded via Sportfive, the exclusive agency of the French team.
The logo will appear on the club’s shorts for their home and away Ligue 1 matches, giving the brand exposure on the kit of one of France’s most improved sides of recent years.
St Etienne regularly feature in the end of season hunt for a European place, and at one point towards the end of last season were an outside bet for a Champions League place.
Christophe Galtier’s side are currently 11th in the French league this year.
Rapid Croq, based in Bonson, not far from St Etienne, specialise in distribution of food for animals, particularly cats and dogs, and have 15 stores throughout France.
“This partnership with Saint-Etienne is the best tool to carry our brand, which represents ambition, dynamism, team spirit, effort and success,” said Rapid Croq chief executive Eddy Cathaud (pictured top, second left).
“The club’s reputation will allow us to develop our brand on a national level.”
Roland Romeyer (pictured top, second right), chief executive of the French club, added: “Rapid Croq is a growing company and we are proud to support its development.
“Rapid Croq is also a regional company, and nearly 90 per cent of our partners are companies that are based in the Rhone-Alpes region.
“This shows that Saint-Etienne plays an important role in the local economy.”
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