Authentic Announces Acquisition of Sperry and New Licensing Agreement With the ALDO Group

Authentic Brands Group (Authentic), a global brand development, entertainment and marketing platform, announced the purchase of Sperry, an American heritage footwear brand. Through the acquisition, the ALDO Group comes on board as Sperry’s North American operating partner for wholesale, e-commerce and store operations, as well as the brand’s partner for footwear design, production and distribution globally.

“We are excited to bring Sperry into the Authentic platform,” said Jamie Salter, Chairman and CEO of Authentic. “Sperry’s influence extends far beyond fashion, embodying a lifestyle that celebrates exploration. We look forward to launching Sperry into a new era alongside ALDO Group, an incredible partner and leader in the footwear industry.”

An icon of classic style, Sperry has become a trailblazer in timeless footwear and modern casuals. The brand is renowned for its iconic boat shoes that left an enduring impact on casual and leisure footwear worldwide. With a heritage spanning over 90 years, the Sperry’s commitment to quality, comfort and timeless design continues to resonate, making it a symbol of timeless style and adventure.

Authentic will leverage its global network of category experts and best-in-class operating partners to grow Sperry’s product offerings and expand its market share around the world. In line with its proven playbook, the company will convert the Sperry business into a licensed model. Authentic recognizes a significant opportunity to grow Sperry’s lifestyle offerings, including rainwear, sportswear, bags and accessories, along with a particular focus on expanding its presence across the APAC region.

“I’m thrilled to further deepen our partnership with Authentic and to announce that Sperry, an iconic casual brand we’ve long admired, is joining the ALDO Group. At our core, we are retailers where the direct relationship with the consumer is key. We’re looking forward to adding 23 Sperry stores to the 430 other branded stores we operate in North America, as well as welcoming Sperry’s store employees to our team. Our powerful operational structure for stores, wholesale and e-comm has been built over five decades, and we’re excited to put our deep experience to use right away elevating Sperry,” said David Bensadoun, CEO of the ALDO Group.

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About Authentic Brands Group

Authentic Brands Group (Authentic) is a global brand development, marketing and entertainment platform, which owns a portfolio of more than 50 iconic and world-renowned Lifestyle, Entertainment and Media brands. Headquartered in New York City, with offices around the world, Authentic connects strong brands with best-in-class partners and a global network of operators, distributors and retailers to build long-term value in the marketplace. Its brands generate more than $29 billion in global annual retail sales and have an expansive retail footprint in 150 countries, including 13,100-plus freestanding stores and shop-in-shops and 382,000 points of sale.

Authentic is committed to transforming brands by delivering powerful storytelling, compelling content, innovative business models and immersive experiences. It creates and activates original marketing strategies to drive the success of its brands across all consumer touchpoints, platforms and emerging media. Authentic’s brand portfolio includes Marilyn Monroe®, Elvis Presley®, Muhammad Ali®, Shaquille O’Neal®, David Beckham®, Dr. J®, Greg Norman®, Neil Lane®, Thalia®, Sports Illustrated®, Reebok®, Brooks Brothers®, Barneys New York®, Judith Leiber®, Ted Baker®, Hunter®, Vince®, Hervé Léger®, Hickey Freeman®, Frye®, Nautica®, Juicy Couture®, Vince Camuto®, Lucky Brand®, Aéropostale®, Forever 21®, Nine West®, Sperry®, Rockport®, Eddie Bauer®, Boardriders®, Quiksilver®, Billabong®, Roxy®, DC Shoes®, RVCA®, Element®, VonZipper®, Honolua®, Spyder®, Volcom®, Shark®, Tretorn®, Prince®, Airwalk®, Izod®, Jones New York®, Van Heusen®, Hart Schaffner Marx®, Arrow® and Thomasville®.

For more information, visit corporate.authentic.com.

About the ALDO Group

Specializing in stylish and accessible footwear and accessories, the ALDO Group has been around for more than 50 years. We operate under two signature brands, Aldo and Call It Spring, and a multi-brand retail concept, GLOBO and we are also an industry-recognized wholesale distributor and third-party sourcing provider of fashion footwear, handbags and accessories. With stores in more than 110 countries, we are on a journey to create a world of love, confidence, and belonging. In addition to its head office in Montreal, the ALDO Group has international offices in Europe and in Asia. For more information, visit www.aldogroup.com

About ALDO Product Services (APS)

The ALDO Group wholesale division, ALDO Product Services (APS) was founded on the belief that in order to be successful, and to help other companies realize their full potential, it is essential to consistently seize opportunities, break boundaries, and go above and beyond what anyone else in the industry can offer. Their mission is to offer everything they have learned to other partners whose goal is to build world-class footwear and accessories businesses. From product design and development to brand, marketing and distribution, APS offers a full 360-degree service.

For more information about the ALDO Group or to connect with our wholesale sales team, please reach out to Amélie Provost, Marketing Director at ALDO Product services at aprovost@aldogroup.com.