Abercrombie & Fitch Adds Hunter, Sperry Footwear to Broaden Product Mix
ANF•Abercrombie & Fitch has begun selling third-party footwear brands such as Hunter, Sperry and Puma to diversify its product mix after sales growth moderated. Separately, Primark has appointed Keiron Birch as director of womenswear design ahead of parent ABF’s planned food and fashion demerger, though impact on Abercrombie remains limited.
1. Third-Party Footwear Rollout
Abercrombie & Fitch has introduced external footwear lines including Hunter, Sperry and Puma across its U.S. and international stores and e-commerce platforms. The move aims to diversify its product portfolio as comparable sales earlier soared and then began to moderate.
2. Sales Growth Trend
The retailer saw its annual revenue nearly double over the past two years but reported a deceleration in same-store sales growth this quarter. Executives view third-party footwear as an opportunity to sustain top-line momentum by tapping into established brand equities.
3. Primark Design Leadership
Primark, owned by Associated British Foods, has appointed Keiron Birch as director of womenswear design to lead its fashion and accessories design teams. While this underscores ABF’s commitment to strengthening its apparel units ahead of a planned spin-off, direct effects on Abercrombie & Fitch are expected to be minimal.
4. ABF Demerger Plans
Associated British Foods plans to list its food and fashion operations separately on the London Stock Exchange. The spin-off will create standalone entities in the FTSE 100, with the Weston family retaining majority control of both divisions.
