World Footwear

Companies

Shoe brand Clarks to deepen its reach across Africa

Nov 13, 2014 Africa
Shoe brand Clarks to deepen its reach across Africa
According to Ventures Africa, a Pan-African business magazine, the historic British shoe maker will double its network in the continent by 2015

“Africa is an important growth strategy for Clarks (..) as it moves from bazaars to high streets and shopping malls. We want to be part of that revolution and growth”, commented Porbanderwalla Irfan, President of Clarks Middle East & Africa.

The British brand is eager to participate in the continent’s economic boom and attract customers within a burgeoning middle class and an attractive consumer space.

Clarks, a privately-held shoe maker, is "targeting upwardly mobile clients with an eye for stylish British shoes and is interested in African countries with strong retail markets". According to Ventures Africa, the company hopes to expand into other African markets such as Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Kenya and South Africa.

Established in 1825 by Quaker brothers James and Cyrus Clark, the British based company is one of the biggest shoe manufacturers globally with sales exceeding 1.5 billion pounds, across more than 100 markets. The company lauched its fourth footwear concept store at the Galleria Mall of Nakumatt Holdings in Kenya, bringing its number of new stores in the Middle East and Africa (MENA) region to 75.

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