NOCIKA sas

What NOCIKA sas does

NOCIKA sas is a privately held French group founded in 1998 by Lionel Hassine that imports, distributes, and manufactures water sports and nautical leisure articles for both individual consumers and professional customers. Headquartered since autumn 2021 at a 7,000+ m² site in Salon-de-Provence that houses 6,000 m² of warehousing alongside offices, customer service, purchasing, marketing, and IT, the group employs 45+ people and is led by Hassine as Founder-President-Director General.

The group's commercial surface spans four consumer-facing e-commerce platforms plus a B2B distribution arm: Flysurf (kitesurf and technical glide sports, founded 1998), Nautigames (kayaks, paddle, towables, and water leisure games, founded 2009), Orange Marine (boat equipment and accastillage serving France, Germany, and Italy, founded 2011 and acquired by NOCIKA in February 2020), and Source Boardshop (technical glide sports, the rebranded Vague et Vent acquired in 2022, now also operating physical stores in Palavas-les-Flots, Annecy, and Salon-de-Provence). Professional customers are served through Nocika Distribution's dedicated B2B portal and an Aqua Marina distribution partnership. NOCIKA also develops and manufactures a portfolio of own brands, including Ryde, Howzit, Coversy, Karley, Talaia, and Overdeck, which address practitioner needs from beginner to expert levels.

The business model is multi-channel and primarily transactional, combining direct-to-consumer e-commerce, B2B wholesale distribution, and physical retail with Click & Collect integration across the four consumer banners. The group has grown predominantly through acquisitions that have been absorbed under existing infrastructure, with three completed deals between 2019 and 2022 (Howzit, Orange Marine, Vague et Vent) supplemented by ongoing own-brand product development, a 2024 physical-retail consolidation in Annecy, and a 2026 on-site retail launch in Salon-de-Provence.

Name

NOCIKA sas

Legal name

NOCIKA sas

Website

https://nocika.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NOCIKA is a French importer, distributor, and manufacturer of water sports and nautical leisure products, operating B2C e-commerce platforms (Flysurf, Nautigames, Orange Marine, Source Boardshop), a B2B distribution portal, and physical retail stores serving consumers and professional retailers across France, Germany, and Italy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Sports Equipment Retail

NAICS

Sporting Goods Retailers (459110), Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (33992)

SIC

Retail-Nonstore Retailers (5960), Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Sports & Marine Recreation Gear Distribution (CRAOAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Surf & Beach Sports Retail (Surfboards, Bodyboards, Skimboards) (CRAMAIAE), Paddle Sports Retail (Kayak, Canoe, SUP, Paddles) (CRAMAIAD)

Keywords

• Water sports equipment
• Nautical leisure products
• Boat equipment
• Kitesurf supplies
• Outdoor recreation retail

Headquarters

HQ city

Grans

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. E-commerce Retail (B2C): Direct online sales through multiple specialized websites (Flysurf, Nautigames, Orange Marine, Source Boardshop) offering nautical sports equipment, water leisure products, and boat accessories to consumers. Revenue generated through product markups on direct sales.
2. B2B Distribution: Professional distribution of sports and water leisure articles to retailers and business customers through dedicated B2B portal (Nocika Distribution). Includes proprietary brand products and distribution of partner brands like Aqua Marina.
3. Physical Retail: Brick-and-mortar sales through Source Boardshop stores in Palavas-les-Flots, Annecy, and Salon-de-Provence. Click & Collect service linking online orders with in-store pickup.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

NOCIKA sas is a French importer, distributor, and manufacturer of water sports and nautical leisure articles for individuals and professionals. The group operates multiple specialized e-commerce platforms (Flysurf, Nautigames, Orange Marine, Source Boardshop), a B2B professional distribution portal (Nocika Distribution), physical retail stores, and a portfolio of proprietary brands (Ryde, Howzit, Coversy, Karley, Talaia, Overdeck).

Product overview

Nocika is a French group acting as importer, distributor, and manufacturer of water sports and nautical leisure articles for both individuals and professionals. The portfolio consists of multiple e-commerce platforms and retail stores, plus B2B distribution and own-brand product lines. The core online platforms include Flysurf (technical glide sports e-commerce since 1998), Nautigames (recreational nautical activities since 2009), and Orange Marine (boat equipment and rigging since 2011), alongside Source Boardshop (physical stores and e-commerce for technical glide sports). The group operates a B2B division (Nocika Distribution) and distributes Aqua Marina products under a partnership. Nocika also develops proprietary brands including Coversy, Howzit, Talaia, and Overdeck.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Flysurf E-commerce platform for water sports equipment, established in 1998 as the reference site for kitesurf and glide sports in France. Offers community features, product sales, and expert advice for enthusiasts.
• Nautigames E-commerce platform specialised in recreational nautical activities for individuals and professionals. Offers towable tubes, kayaks, paddle boards, and outdoor nautical games, partnering with brands such as Aqua Marina, Bic Sport, and Gumotex.
• Orange Marine E-commerce platform and brand specialising in boat equipment and pleasure boating accessories, serving French, German, and Italian markets. Offers safety equipment, maintenance products, inflatable dinghies, and rigging hardware.
• Source Boardshop Physical retail stores and e-commerce platform specialising in technical glide sports, with locations in Palavas-les-Flots, Annecy, and Salon-de-Provence. Staffed by active practitioners advising on wing foil, kitesurf, surf, wakeboard, snowboard, and stand-up paddle.
• Nocika Distribution B2B division acting as importer, distributor, and manufacturer of sports and nautical leisure articles for professionals. Provides dedicated professional access to the Nocika group's portfolio of products.
• Aqua Marina Distribution Distribution partnership for Aqua Marina products in France. Aqua Marina is a world leader in inflatable stand-up paddle, inflatable kayak, and pneumatic dinghy products manufactured by ORPC group.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Aqua MarinacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAqua Marina, a world leader in inflatable stand-up paddle, inflatable kayak, and pneumatic dinghy products, partnered with Nocika as its French distributor. The partnership leverages Nocika's market leadership position in France to promote and distribute Aqua Marina's high-quality products manufactured by ORPC group.
• Orange MarinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrange Marine was created in 2011 by Olivier Kauffmann, former General Director of Decathlon, and acquired by Nocika in February 2020. It specializes in boat equipment and pleasure craft accessories, serving French, German, and Italian markets. Orange Marine participates in product development for safety, maintenance, dinghies, and accastillage.
• HowzitmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHowzit is a French manufacturer of technical accessories and textiles dedicated to nautical activities, acquired by Nocika in November 2019. The brand develops products specifically designed for water sports practitioners.
• Vague et Vent (Source Boardshop)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVague et Vent, a specialist in technical glide sports on Internet and physical shop in Palavas-les-Flots, was acquired by Nocika in Summer 2022. It has been rebranded as Source Boardshop and now operates physical stores in Palavas-les-Flots, Annecy, and Salon-de-Provence, with over 40 years of expertise.
• Surf It AnnecymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric surf shop of Annecy that merged with Source Annecy in 2024, with relocation 300 meters to join the Nocika group, strengthening the physical retail presence in the Alpine region.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves19 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Hala Gear: Specialist inflatable SUP and kayak brand with a direct-to-consumer model; relevant as a niche brand in the same paddle/leisure categories NOCIKA distributes and sells.

Others

• Aqua Marina: World leader in inflatable SUP, kayak, and dinghy products and NOCIKA's principal French distribution partner; comparable as a brand competing in the same paddle/leisure category NOCIKA distributes and sells.

Direct peers

• Tahe Outdoors: European paddle sports and kayak manufacturer/brand with overlapping product categories (SUP, kayak, windsurf) to NOCIKA's Nautigames platform; comparable as both a brand NOCIKA could distribute and a competitor for consumer mind share.
• NRS (Northwest River Supplies): US-based paddle sports and water recreation equipment retailer/manufacturer with an integrated e-commerce and distribution model closely mirroring NOCIKA's Nautigames and Source Boardshop approach.
• SROKA: French stand-up paddle board brand with a strong direct-to-consumer e-commerce model competing in the same paddle/leisure category NOCIKA distributes through Nautigames.
• RTM (Rotomod): French kayak and paddle sports manufacturer with direct overlap to NOCIKA's Nautigames product lines; comparable as a domestic French manufacturer in the same categories NOCIKA retails and distributes.
• BIC Sport: Manufacturer of kayaks, paddle boards, and windsurf equipment that NOCIKA already distributes through Nautigames; comparable as both a brand partner and a competing manufacturer in the same paddle/leisure categories.

Regional players

• Globe Sailor / Nautal: European nautical marketplace serving similar boat owners and pleasure craft customers as NOCIKA's Orange Marine; comparable as a peer in the boat equipment and accastillage category, though focused on charter/rental.

Broad incumbents

• Decathlon: Global sporting goods retail giant with a strong water sports offering under its Tribord/Itiwit brands, competing directly with NOCIKA across retail, B2B distribution, and increasingly own-brand manufacturing in the same categories NOCIKA addresses.
• Tribord (Decathlon): Decathlon's water sports brand that competes across kayak, SUP, and water leisure categories against NOCIKA's Nautigames offering; relevant as the most aggressive own-brand competitor in NOCIKA's core French market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInfr.linkedin.com/company/flysurf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NOCIKA sas