Azzurri tackles sports market

WATERFORD clothing company Azzurri is set to make a pitch for the GAA market and has dreams of seeing a team wearing its jerseys lift the Sam Maguire in Croke Park within a few years.

At present Azzurri manufactures protective clothing for fire-fighters which it exports around the world to places as far flung as Bahrain, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand.

The company recorded a turnover of in excess of 4 million last year. Protective clothing accounted for about 60% of this but sports gear for GAA, rugby, soccer and golf clubs now accounts for 30% of sales and is continuing to grow.