This is one of the key findings from the World Footwear Business Conditions Survey, conducted in October and November 2025. We asked our panel of experts to share their views on the impact of AI in the footwear industry. Here’s what they told us   

The Portuguese footwear components sector is set to bolster its international presence through initiatives in key markets, including Spain, the United States, France, Italy and the UK   

BDO’s latest High Street Sales Tracker shows that discretionary retail sales fell by 1.4% year-on-year in December, representing the weakest monthly performance since November 2024   

Atlanta is a family-owned business specialising in the production of footwear soles. Its main partner, JPM, focuses on providing technology solutions. Together under the FAIST consortium, they are exploring how to replace labour-intensive processes in the footwear sector with technology   

Associated British Foods has revealed that it expects profits to be lower than last year. Primark has had a challenging start to the year, with improvements in UK trading offset by weakness in continental Europe