Companies

More on acquisitions in the European footwear sector

Dec 26, 2023 Europe

The past two months have seen a number of transactions. The Italian shoemakers Dema and Asso have new owners. The Austrian retailer Leder & Schuh has acquired the brand rights of Delka

Holding Moda, the investment vehicle created by Hind-Holding Industriale in 2018, has acquired a majority stake in the Italian footwear manufacturer Dema. Founded in 1989 and based near Naples, the manufacturer employs about 150 people and produces more than 1 100 pairs a day of moccasins and sneakers. For Holding Moda, this acquisition represents an expansion of its portfolio of Italian fashion manufacturers, as it now controls 14 companies with Dema.

The Italian footwear manufacturer Asso is also growing, having recently acquired the women’s footwear brand Janet&Janet from Sthart. Founded in 1987 and based in the Fermo footwear manufacturing district in Italy’s Marche region, Asso specialises in children’s shoes, but from 2019 it is looking to diversify into the adult segment (with the purchase of Keys from the Opera Group).

In the meantime, the Austrian shoe retailer Leder & Schuh, owner of Humanic and Shoe4you, has acquired the brand rights to Austrian footwear retail banner Delka from Ara. Established in 1907, Delka filed for bankruptcy in the summer alongside Salamander, also part of Ara Group. Before the bankruptcy, it operated 18 stores in Austria, which are now closed.

There are no plans yet for the future of the Delka brand, but it has been reported that the new owner intends to position the brand in the comfort shoe segment. Leder & Schuh is one of the largest shoe retailers in Europe, employing around 2 000 people in around 200 stores in nine European countries.

Source: shoeintelligence.com

Image Credits: assoitaly.it

Austria Europe Italy Acquisitions Brands Companies Footwear Manufacturing Shoes