Portwest has announced an investment in Italian company Base Protection footwear, a premium safety footwear brand.
Portwest Director, Owen Hughes said investment in innovative, market-leading workwear and safety companies is part of the Portwest Group’s strategy for growth.
“We previously invested in two Australian workwear companies and the latest investment in Base Protection Footwear is strategically important for us,” he said.
Portwest is one of the fastest growing workwear companies in the world, specialising in fire resistant and high visibility workwear and a full range of personal protective equipment, such as safety footwear and work gloves. Founded in Westport, Co. Mayo in 1904, the company is run by the Hughes family, headed up by brothers Cathal, Harry and Owen Hughes.
Portwest currently employs over 4,500 people worldwide, has sales in over 130 countries, warehousing facilities in Ireland, UK, Poland, Dubai, Australia and USA and four fully owned factories in Asia and Africa.
Established in 2007, Base Protection Footwear is one of Europe’s leading premium brands of safety footwear, who design and manufacture exceptional safety shoes for millions of wearers globally. They operate factories in Italy and Albania, employing over 250 people. Base Protection Footwear is renowned for comfort and they are proud of their brand strapline – “Feel the Comfort”.
Portwest CEO, Harry Hughes said this is Portwest’s first safety footwear investment and it fits well with the company strategy of offering our global customers a head to toe safety solution.
“We welcome Mr Inigo Perez Corella, CEO with Base Protection, who will continue to lead the footwear division, which has a number of innovative footwear patents. The investment in Base Protection will allow them to grow in international markets”.
Inigo Perez Corella, CEO Base Protection, welcomed the move saying this strategic investment will allow Base Protection to develop faster in Northern Europe and other markets outside of Europe.
“There will be no change to the management team at Base Protection and our core commitment of developing pioneering brands remains unchanged,’ he said.
