SGB Executive Footwear
EXEC: Sports Direct Parent Frasers Abandons Nordic SG Retailer XXL Takeover Effort
Frasers cited the condition requiring acceptance of the Intended Offer by a sufficient number of shareholders to ensure that it would hold more than 50 percent of XXL shares and votes on a fully diluted and converted basis would not be satisfied.
EXEC: Birkenstock Beats Fiscal Q1 Estimates on Surging Closed-Toe Business
Close-toe silhouettes reportedly grew at more than double the pace of the Group average and increased the share of business by 600 basis points. Closed-toe, driven by the clog category, accounted for nearly two-thirds of the America region’s revenue in the quarter.
EXEC: Merrell Looks at Life Beyond the Trail; Eyes the Mall for Lifestyle Growth
Merrell is expected to grow mid-single-digits in 2025, building on second-half 2024 gains. The company expects key products, including the SpeedARC Collection, Moab Speed 2 and Agility Peak 5 to continue driving the category.
EXEC: Saucony Tagged For Outsized Growth in 2025 After Strong 2024 Finish
The Saucony business declined 5.2 percent in constant-currency terms to $99.6 million in the fourth quarter but grew 7 percent year-over-year when accounting for the change in its China business model to a licensing and royalty deal.
EXEC: Authentic Appoints New Reebok Licensing Partners for U.S., UK and Europe
In the U.S., Galaxy Universal takes over Reebok’s footwear operation, retail stores and e-commerce, and will lead the brand’s global product creation, design and sourcing. A new JV, GB Brands Europe Ltd., will oversee the brand’s operations across Europe and the UK.
EXEC: Wolverine Worldwide Shares Fall 17 Percent as 2025 Forecast Disappoints
Fourth quarter revenue fell 5.8 percent year-over-year but rose 3.3 percent to $494.7 million when tallying the company’s ongoing business. The company posted big improvements in gross margin and operating margins in Q4, leading to a positive earnings result.
EXEC: Adidas Basketball Chief Eric Wise is Leaving the Company
Wise joined Adidas in 2016 as director of merchandising for Foot, Inc. He moved to LA in 2021 to head up a new office for Adidas focused on the company’s basketball business.
EXEC: Nike Inc. Launching Co-Branded NikeSkims Effort with Kim Kardashian
The co-branded effort to find a pathway to more women consumers runs counter to the company’s efforts to connect with core female athletes that were the clear focus in its Super Bowl LVIII advertising and recent comments from the company’s new CEO, Elliot Hall.
EXEC: European Outdoor Group and Messe München Cancel OutDoor 2025
European Outdoor Group (EOG), along with trade show organizer Messe München, have jointly decided not to hold the OutDoor 2025 as scheduled in May.
EXEC: Asics Sees 2024 Lifestyle Footwear Sales Surge 50+ Percent
The company’s SportStyle and Onitsuka Tiger categories each posted growth in excess of 50 percent year-over-year to nearly ¥100 billion each, while operating profits more than doubled for each category versus 2023. SportStyle sales grew 120 percent in the North America region.
EXEC: Sebago, Superga, K-Way Parent BasicNet Posts Solid 2024 Gains
BasicNet S.p.A., the Turin, Italy-based parent of the Sebago, Superga, Briko, Kappa, K-Way, Jesus Jeans, and Sabelt brands, has reported that full-year consolidated revenues increased 3.1 percent year-over-year to €409.2 million in 2024.
EXEC: On Holding Gets Goldman Downgrade; Nike Sees Analyst Call for Patience
Last week, Nike got a downgrade on its shares from Citibank, and now On Holding is downgraded, which is a tough move for one of the hottest footwear brands in the active lifestyle market to get negative attention.
EXEC: Fenix Outdoor Sees Credit Issues and Weather Impact Q4
The parent of Fjällräven, Royal Robbins, Hanwag, and Fenix Outdoor brands reported that the 2024 fourth quarter started promising, but a delay in winter weather meant it slowed down before improving again toward the latter part of the quarter.
EXEC: JD Sports Fashion Plc Shifts Leadership at JD Outdoor Segment
Dominic Jordan, the former CEO of Hobbycraft, assumes the top seat held by outgoing CEO Lee Bagnall for the past 12 years. Bagnall has agreed to stay on for a transition period.
EXEC: Asian FW Factories See Weaker January Trends; Pou Sheng Retail Jumps
Feng Tay Enterprises, one of the longest-tenured manufacturers of Nike footwear, reported manufacturing revenues declined 6.2 percent in January and Yue Yuen’s factory business grew an anemic 1.1 percent increase in December.
