Company type | Subsidiary |
---|---|
Industry | Sportswear and accessories |
Founded | 1974 |
Founder | Frank van Wezel |
Headquarters | , |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Frank van Wezel (
Chairman) Ed van Wezel( CEO) |
Products | Sportswear, sports equipment |
Revenue | $250USD million |
Number of employees | 500 |
Parent | Cherokee Inc. |
Website |
www |
Hi-Tec Sports, trading as Hi-Tec, [2] is a privately held [3] producer and distributor of sportswear and accessories, headquartered in the Netherlands. [1]
Hi-Tec Sports was founded in 1974, [4] in Shoeburyness, Essex, England, [5] by Frank Van Wezel. The company moved its headquarters to Southend-on-Sea, [6] before relocating its head office to Amsterdam.
Hi-Tec Sports USA was started in Modesto, CA in 1978 by Duke and Kathy Jones. They developed the first lightweight hiking boot. This became the main success of Hi-Tec Sports USA. They also developed and named the "Magnum" boot. Duke and Kathy Jones sold Hi-Tec Sports USA to Frank Van Wezel in 1990.
In 1988, the company was floated on the London Stock Exchange. [3] Frank van Wezel bought the company back in 2000. It was privately held through 2013. [3]
Production was in China until 2005, when Hi-Tec acquired the Falcon shoe factory in Lewiston, Maine, enabling them to offer made-in-usa branded products and compete for US Federal government contracts. [7]
In 2013, Hi-Tec founder and chairman Frank van Wezel, was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Business Administration by Anglia Ruskin University. [8]
In 2016, it was acquired by Cherokee Inc., later known as Apex Global Brands. [9]
In 2012, Hi-Tec's V-Lite Altitude Ultra Luxe boot received a Which? Best Buy Walking Boot award. [10]
Hi-Tec's ZUUK trainer shoe was awarded Footwear Product of the Year 2013 at The Great Outdoors Awards. [11]
The UK based Hi-Tec office was announced Sports Footwear Brand of the Year 2014 [12] and Outdoor Footwear Company of the Year 2013 at the Footwear Industry Awards. [13]