What Afydad does

Afydad (Asociación Española de Fabricantes y Distribuidores de Artículos Deportivos) is a Spanish non-profit trade association headquartered in Sant Quirze del Vallès, Barcelona, that represents manufacturers and distributors of sports articles operating in Spain. The association's core function is to support the internationalization of its member companies — Spanish brands in sports apparel, footwear, cycling, outdoor, fitness, padel, and accessories — by coordinating their collective participation in major international trade fairs (ISPO Munich/Amsterdam, Eurobike Frankfurt, FIBO, FSB Cologne/Riyadh, Outdoor Trade Show Riva del Garda, FITUR Sports, Africa Sports Expo) under the unified brand umbrellas SPAIN IS SPORT and SPAIN IS BIKE. Beyond trade fair coordination, Afydad processes ICEX (Instituto Español de Comercio Exterior) export subsidies on behalf of members, organizes direct and reverse commercial missions, delivers education programs including ISPO Academy Barcelona in partnership with Messe München and Fira Barcelona, publishes statistical and market research reports, and provides administrative support services such as VAT recovery assistance, textile labelling compliance, and distribution/sales-agent contract support. The association operates sub-brands SPAIN IS SPORT (general sports industry) and SPAIN IS BIKE (cycling industry focus), and maintains strategic partnerships with Messe München, Koelnmesse, RAI Amsterdam, FESI, ICEX, Johan Cruyff Institute, and The Venue Barcelona.

The business model is membership-fee driven and recurring in nature, with revenue supplemented by event participation fees and service commissions. Afydad is governed by a board of directors led by President Andrés de la Dehesa, with Mar Peire as First Vice President and Guillermo Ruiz as Second Vice President, plus eleven Vocales (board members) representing member companies. The organization has no parent company, no external investors, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed funding rounds, consistent with its non-profit association structure. The association operates from two locations in the Barcelona metropolitan area: a registered headquarters in Sant Quirze del Vallès and an operational contact office at the Estadio Olímpico Lluís Companys (Coworking The Venue Barcelona).

Afydad does not develop proprietary technology products; rather, it functions as a service-coordination platform. Its underlying infrastructure consists of trade fair logistics partnerships, government subsidy administration workflows, market intelligence compilation, and event programming. The association's distribution advantage is built on long-standing relationships with premier European trade fair organizers and its formal channel-partner status with ICEX, providing members with both premium exhibition access and subsidized costs unavailable to non-members.

Name

Afydad

Legal name

Asociación Española de Fabricantes y Distribuidores de Artículos Deportivos (AFYDAD)

Website

https://afydad.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Industry Trade Association

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)

akta.pro primary industry

International Sport Federations (IFs) (MPAKAFAB)

Keywords

• Sports trade association
• International trade fairs
• Export promotion services
• Sports industry networking
• Trade fair coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Barcelona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Afydad generates revenue through membership fees from Spanish sports article manufacturers and distributors who join the association to access international promotion services, trade fair participation support, and networking opportunities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Afydad (Asociación Española de Fabricantes y Distribuidores de Artículos Deportivos) is a non-profit Spanish trade association that represents manufacturers and distributors of sports articles. It provides international promotion services, coordinates Spanish participation in major international trade fairs (ISPO, Eurobike, FIBO, FSB, Outdoor Trade Show), processes ICEX export subsidies for member companies, organizes commercial missions, delivers market intelligence and statistical reports, and operates the SPAIN IS SPORT and SPAIN IS BIKE promotional brands.

Product overview

Afydad (Asociación Española de Fabricantes y Distribuidores de Artículos Deportivos) is a Spanish sports industry trade association that provides a unified platform of services to support member companies in internationalization, trade promotion, and market development. The association offers a portfolio of interconnected services including international promotion advisory, trade show coordination (both national and international), education and training programs, market statistics, and administrative support. Key brand initiatives include SPAIN IS SPORT for general sports industry promotion and SPAIN IS BIKE for cycling sector-specific international activities. Members gain access to collective trade show participation, ICEX subsidy processing, B2B networking events, and market intelligence reports.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• International Promotion Services
• National Trade Show Services
• Education and Training Programs
• Statistical Reports and Market Research
• Administrative Support Services
• SPAIN IS SPORT
• SPAIN IS BIKE

Quantifiable outcome

• ICEX subsidies available for qualifying trade fair participation reducing exhibition costs for member companies

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• Red PointsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 July 2016Agreement with Red Points anti-counterfeiting company to combat online sales of counterfeit sports articles, protecting member brand integrity.
• FESI (Federación Europea de la Industria de Artículos Deportivos)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 June 2016European Federation of Sports Industry conducting public awareness campaigns like 'Score The Real Thing' to promote purchase of original sports articles, supported by EUIPO.
• SPORTALIUSminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 10 May 2016First professional sports marketplace in Spain facilitating direct sales channel for manufacturers and distributors. Afydad members receive free registration and maintenance.
• ICEX (Instituto Español de Comercio Exterior)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish Institute for Foreign Trade provides subsidies and support for Spanish companies participating in international trade fairs. Afydad coordinates ICEX aid applications for member companies attending events like ISPO Amsterdam 2026, Eurobike 2026, and ORB Days.
• Messe MünchencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman trade fair organizer behind ISPO Munich. Afydad facilitates Spanish company participation and organizes ISPO Academy Barcelona sessions in collaboration with Messe München and Fira Barcelona.
• SPAIN IS BIKEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative under the Afydad umbrella specifically focused on promoting the Spanish cycling industry internationally through trade fair participation and networking events.
• EurobikecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational cycling industry trade fair held in Frankfurt. Eurobike sponsors Le Grand Connect event organized by SPAIN IS SPORT and The Venue Barcelona, featuring Spanish cycling industry participation.
• Good Morning Sports (SPORTBIZ)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizer of SPORTBIZ EUROPE congress. Afydad supports the event as a partner, providing Spanish companies access to this sport business networking opportunity with organizations like NBA, FIBA, LALIGA, and Euroleague.
• 2PlaybookminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports industry media outlet listed as a press partner for Afydad news coverage.
• Palco 23 / Mundo DeportivominorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports media outlet partnering with SPAIN IS SPORT and SPAIN IS BIKE for events like Le Grand Connect networking opportunity.
• Koelnmesse GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman trade fair organizer behind FIBO (fitness) and FSB Sports Show. Afydad coordinates Spanish company participation in these events including FSB Sports Show Riyadh.
• The Venue BarcelonacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoworking space at Barcelona Olympic Stadium that co-organizes cycling industry events like Le Grand Connect with SPAIN IS SPORT, leveraging Grand Départ du Tour de France visibility.
• Barcelona ActivaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBarcelona city development agency supporting SPORTBIZ EUROPE 2026 as institutional partner.
• Johan Cruyff InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports business education institution as strategic partner for SPORTBIZ EUROPE 2026 congress content co-creation.
• European Sponsorship AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association supporting SPORTBIZ EUROPE 2026 as institutional partner.
• ADESP (Asociación Española de Deportes)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish sports federation association supporting SPORTBIZ EUROPE 2026 as institutional partner.
• RAI AmsterdamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch trade fair venue hosting the new ISPO Amsterdam starting 2026, a joint venture between Messe München and Raccoon Media Group, with Afydad organizing Spanish participation.
• ICEXcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages Market Access Database and provides export assistance through Spain Exportación e Inversiones, linked to Afydad for international promotion activities.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• European Outdoor Group (EOG): European trade association representing outdoor brands and suppliers. EOG is a direct peer in Afydad's outdoor segment and co-organizes the European Outdoor Summit that Afydad has participated in.
• PeopleForBikes: US cycling industry trade association coordinating industry data, advocacy, and trade representation. Directly comparable to Afydad's SPAIN IS BIKE vertical in mission and constituency.
• Snowsports Industries America (SIA): US snow sports industry trade association organizing trade shows and industry initiatives. Comparable in model to Afydad: member-supported, trade fair-centric, focused on international promotion of US brands.
• FESI - Federación Europea de la Industria de Artículos Deportivos: European federation of sports goods manufacturers that Afydad already partners with on anti-counterfeiting. FESI is the direct European-level counterpart to Afydad, representing the same constituency at a wider geographic scope.
• WFSGI - World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry: Global federation of sports goods manufacturers and brands. WFSGI is the highest-level international counterpart to Afydad, working on trade policy, sustainability, and standards across the same member companies.
• Sport & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA): US trade association for sports and fitness manufacturers, providing market research and advocacy. Direct functional peer to Afydad with similar services like market intelligence, lobbying, and trade show coordination.

Regional players

• Confindustria Moda: Italian federation representing textile, fashion, and accessories industries with a sportswear footprint. Comparable in serving as a national industry platform that internationalizes member brands through coordinated trade fair presence.

Broad incumbents

• Outdoor Industry Association (OIA): US-based trade association for the outdoor industry. OIA is the most mature national-level analog to Afydad's outdoor/fashion membership segment, with overlapping member brands like Ternua and Trangoworld.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Afydad