New Balance to bring football boot production to Britain
US sportswear manufacturer New Balance is to bring production of its premium football boots back to the UK for the first time since 1981, chief executive Rob DeMartini says.
New Balance is the kit sponsor of Scottish champions Celtic
New Balance, which is the kit supplier of Premier League side Liverpool, will sell the boots through its website and flagship stores.
On Thursday the firm opened its biggest non-US outlet store on Oxford Street, which covers three floors and 950 sq ft.
DeMartini said that demand for the firm’s British-manufactured trainers was strong and that the firm will keep producing them at its plant at Flimby, Cumbria, which exports all over the world.
We’re committed to domestic manufacturing. With Brexit, we’ll look at things and deal with it, we are not going to run away
He said: “We’re committed to domestic manufacturing. With Brexit, we’ll look at things and deal with it, we are not going to run away.”
New Balance is also the kit sponsor of Scottish champions Celtic and Spanish side Sevilla and is looking to add more clubs to its roster.
DeMartini said that given its status as the only true global sport, increasing the firm’s share of the football market would help it achieve its aim of becoming the third biggest sportswear firm in the world behind Nike and Adidas.
Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey with the New Balance Visaro football boots
Next year the firm will takeover the kit sponsorship of the England cricket team
Next year the firm will takeover the kit sponsorship of the England cricket team, part of a wider play to break into the lucrative Indian market.