Hi-Tec

Hi-Tec

Hi-Tec

Privately held producer and distributor of sportswear and accessories

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]

A Hi-Tec brand shoe

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History

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]

Awards

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]

References

  1. [1]
    Cyr, Brian (19 November 2013). "Hi-Tec Sports, the footwear and apparel brand, hires U.S.-based design director". Oregon Live. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  2. [2]
    "HI-TEC". Hi-Tec. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  3. [3]
    Brettman, Allan (14 May 2013). "Hi-Tec Sports banks on Zuuk shoe for market distinction". Oregon Live. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  4. [4]
    "Our History". HI-TEC UK. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  5. [5]
    Brettman, Allan (17 June 2011). "Hi-Tec Sports footwear CEO had to prove mettle to founder". Oregon Live. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  6. [6]
    "Hi-Tec vows to stay in Southend". Southend Standard. 26 May 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  7. [7]
    "Hi-Tec Sports Acquires Historic Maine Shoe Factory". 28 March 2005.
  8. [8]
    "Anglia Ruskin University's Honorary Graduate Site". Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  9. [9]
    "Cherokee Global Brands Announces Intent to Acquire Hi-Tec Sports Intl" (Press release). 28 November 2016.
  10. [10]
    "Why Hi-Tec? | Hi-Tec UK - Free Delivery". Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  11. [11]
    "HI-TEC ZUUK WINS FOOTWEAR PRODUCT OF THE YEAR AWARD - News". Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  12. [12]
    "Footwear Industry Awards 2014 finalists announced! - the Footwear Industry Awards". Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  13. [13]
    "Hi-Tec voted Outdoor Footwear Brand of the Year - News". Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
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