Companies

Marubeni strengthens lifestyle brand platform with Jacobson acquisition

Jan 9, 2026 United States

As part of a strategic push to develop its scalable lifestyle brand business platform, the Japanese conglomerate Marubeni has acquired the multi-brand footwear owner Jacobson Group Limited

Marubeni has announced the acquisition of the UK-based Jacobson Group Limited, owner of a portfolio of footwear brands including Gola, Lotus, Ravel and Frank Wright, as well as the licensed brands Dunlop and Lonsdale. The deal reinforces Marubeni’s expansion into consumer-related sectors as part of its Mid-Term Management Strategy, GC2027.

Under the agreement, Jacobson has been integrated into Marubeni’s US investment arm, Marubeni Consumer Platform U.S. (MCPU), which already owns R.G. Barry Corporation (RGB), the company behind the popular US slipper and room shoe brand, Dearfoams.

Marubeni aims to accelerate Jacobson’s growth and expand the lifestyle brand business platform with RGB as its core by combining RGB’s robust sales infrastructure and corporate functions with Jacobson’s brand portfolio.

“The acquisition of Jacobson Group advances the platform architecture we've been building and comes at a particularly exciting time, fuelled by Gola’s rapidly expanding market resonance”, said MCPU President Shana Randhava.

Founded in 1905, Gola is now distributed in over 30 countries across the UK, North America, and Europe. The brand is characterised by designs that blend classic British heritage silhouettes with contemporary fashion sensibilities, and it has a strong brand legacy rooted in sports such as football.

Image Credits: marubeni.com

Japan United Kingdom United States Acquisitions Footwear Strategy