All Shoe Intelligence articles in Volume 28, Issue 21+22
View all stories from this issue.
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ArticleBally’s German subsidiary enters insolvency proceedings
Bally’s German retail subsidiary has become insolvent as the Swiss luxury shoemaker continues to restructure its business and close stores under the ownership of Regent LP. Munich’s Local Court ordered preliminary insolvency proceedings for B. D. Retail Deutschland GmbH, which is based in the Bavarian city. Until recently, ...
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ArticleECC and Fashion Cloud roll out AI inventory management tool for footwear and sporting goods retailers
The European-Clearing-Center (ECC), which acts as a platform for electronic data exchange between producers and retailers in the footwear and fashion sectors, has entered a new partnership with technology service provider Fashion Cloud to introduce an AI-powered reordering system. The ‘Smart Replenishment’ inventory management tool links footwear and sporting ...
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ArticleAlois Beck’s management takes over the company
Alois Beck GmbH is changing ownership, with the German shoe manufacturer’s management team set to acquire the company from the Bendeich family on Jan. 1, 2027. Under the new ownership structure, Ulrich Steinle, who joined the company this year and has 17 years of experience in building and selling ...
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ArticleSLE Schuh becomes the sole owner of Legero United after buying out Ara
Legero United is now solely owned by SLE Schuh GmbH after the company acquired the minority stake Ara AG held in the the Austrian footwear manufacturer that owns the brands Superfit, Legero and Think!. Until now, the Chief Executive Officer, Stefan Stolitzka, held a 50.1 percent stake in Legero Schuhfabrik ...
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News briefs
Pidilite introduces advanced Hwaseung Chemical adhesives in India
Pidilite Industries, an Indian manufacturer of adhesives, has formed a new partnership with South Korea-based Hwaseung Chemical to introduce advanced footwear adhesives in India. Sudhanshu Vats, the Managing Director of Pidilite Industries, indicated that the collaboration enables his group to bring to India advanced adhesive technologies already trusted in international ...
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News briefs
Bata closes its Czech footwear factory
Bata is closing its factory in the Czech town of Dolní Němčí, its last plant in Central Europe. “Unfortunately, this type of operation cannot be kept profitable under current market conditions,” said Bata’s board member Andrea Montagnoli. In 2025, the factory produced around 150,000 pairs of shoes for Bata’s ...
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News briefs
Kurt Geiger reportingly ready to sell its business managing Harrods and Selfridges shoe departments
Steve Madden is exploring the sale of Kurt Geiger’s business which manages the shoe departments of the London luxury stores Harrods and Selfridges and has hired the investment bank Solomon Partners as an advisor, according to Sky News. Sources said that the process is “at an early stage”, and prospective ...
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News briefs
Laced Europe is saved by AA Investment Group after going into administration
Laced Europe, a British online footwear marketplace specializing in authenticated sneakers, streetwear and luxury goods, has been taken over by A Beauty Inc Ltd, which is part of AA Investment Group. Established in 2015, Laced Europe was put into administration last month. On Sept. 22, Terri Mulgrew and Michael Kiely ...
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News briefs
Crocs to open a outlet store at Dalton Park
The British shopping center Dalton Park has secured Crocs’ first outlet store in the North East of England. The 1,530 square foot store, scheduled to open this autumn, will offer the brand’s iconic clogs alongside sandals, footwear and accessories for adults and children. “Bringing the first Crocs outlet to the ...
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News briefs
Dune London explores strategic options including its sale
Dune London is exploring strategic options, including a sale or an investment by a third party, as the founder and chairman of the British footwear retailer, Daniel Rubin, plans for his retirement, Drapers reported. FTI Consulting has been appointed to evaluate options for the fashion brand. The process is at ...
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News briefs
Oxy confirms plans to buy Aeffe and Pollini's assets
Oxy Capital Italia confirmed a binding offer valued at €115 million to buy Aeffe and its footwear unit Pollini. The investment will be made by a pool of industrial and financial investors, including an industrial group listed in China. The Italian bank illimity Banca Ifis is expected to provide the ...
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News briefs
Othofeet expands in the DACH region
The US comfort-footwear specialist Orthofeet is expanding its presence in the German-speaking specialist retail market, with its products now carried by more than 500 retail partners across Germany, Austria and Switzerland, according to the company. Its range includes sneakers, walking shoes and hiking footwear, with additional high-cut outdoor models scheduled ...
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ArticleRevenues of Italian shoemakers declined less than expected in Q2
In the second quarter of 2026, revenues of Italian footwear manufacturers decreased by 2.0 percent year-over-year after falling by 2.7 percent in the first three months of the year, according to a survey carried out in July by Confindustria Accessori Moda among members of the Italian footwear association Assocalzaturifici. The ...
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News briefs
Golden Goose appoints a new Chief Consumer Officer
Golden Goose has appointed Giorgio Belloli as Chief Consumer Officer, replacing Danilo Piarulli, who left the Italian luxury sneaker brand to become Chief Executive Officer of Autry. Belloli reports directly to the CEO, Silvio Campara. His brief is to provide ”clear direction, objectives, and governance to our regions to strengthen ...
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News briefs
Dr. Martens names a new Global Commercial Finance Director
Dr. Martens has appointed Kate Vacovec as Global Commercial Finance Director. She joins the British footwear group from Yum! Brands where she worked over 14 years in Dallas, Bangkok and finally in London. ”She brings extensive experience across business analysis, strategy, financial planning and business development, with a proven track ...
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News briefs
Former head of Deckers invests in Stoke Shoes
Stoke Shoes announced that Dave Powers, the former President and CEO of Deckers Brands, has joined the US company as an advisor and investor. Founded by Rick Blackshaw in 2025, Stoke Shoes is a performance-lifestyle brand ”engineered for the 97 million all-American men with wide feet overlooked by the athletic ...
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News briefs
Global luxury market estimated to have slowed down in Q3
The luxury-goods industry is expected to have slowed down in the third quarter compared with a stronger second quarter, according to JP Morgan. The bank expects another strong quarter for jewelry and high-end ready-to-wear, favoring companies like Richemont, Brunello Cucinelli and Ermenegildo Zegna. Meanwhile, another step down in luxury purchases ...
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News briefs
Belleville to produce military shoes in Puerto Rico
PR Footwear, a subsidiary of Illinois-based Belleville Shoe Manufacturing Co, will produce military footwear in Lares, Puerto Rico, with plans to create up to 300 jobs over three years. A second facility is due to be created in San Sebastián dedicated to handling raw materials. The project will receive ...
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ArticleAndré goes into liquidation after 130 years of existence
After 130 years of existence, André is being liquidated. The downfall of the French footwear chain has accelerated since 2019, with the business going into receivership four times over the past six years. A Paris-based court decided to open on Sept. 9 a procedure to liquidate André, after the banner ...
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ArticleFrasers Group buys an 8.8% stake in Under Armour
Frasers Group has acquired an 8.8 percent stake Under Armour, according to a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The document showed that Frasers directly held 16,576,500 shares in the US sportswear group. The purchase of a stake in Under Armour comes after Frasers’ acquisitions of ...
