ROTORUA, New Zealand (BRAIN) — Goodyear Bicycle Tires has signed Wide Open as its New Zealand distributor. Rotorua-based Wide Open will execute Goodyear's marketing efforts in its territories.
"The opportunity to work with Goodyear and establish their bicycle tires as a market leader is a great privilege," Wide Open's Matt Whitaker said. "We are very excited about building a strong dealer network to service and showcase the product line."
Goodyear's Luke Musselman said, "Having strong commercial partners are key to our success as we continue Goodyear's growth in the cycling industry. Matt and his team at Wide Open possess a knowledge and passion for cycling that is second to none, and have a proven history of success in the New Zealand market. We are excited to be working with Wide Open in the years to come."
Introduced this year, the Goodyear premium bike tire line — bearing the 120-year-old brand's famed "winged foot" logo — was developed in collaboration with Musselman's Rubber Kinetics LLC, with a team based at Goodyear's headquarters in Akron. Goodyear also licenses its name for a separate line of mass-market tires designed by Kent International.