Record results for ECCO

Danish footwear manufacturers Ecco Sko A/S have reported record results for last year. Aggregate sales including accessories and leather grew 16.7% to e600 million. Net sales earnings in the footwear sector rose 18.9%. The growth was spread across all product groups: men's, women's, children's, golf and performance shoes. Altogether the company sold some 14.8 million pairs of shoes, 14.5% above last year's figure. 'Our results for 2006 are the natural outcome of the long-term initiatives introduced within the ECCO group over the last few years', said COO Mikael Thinghuus. 'Our success is closely linked to the fact that our main focus is on the end-product - the most comfortable shoes in the world. Despite the fire in our warehouse in Thailand and the stiff EU customs tariffs on leather footwear from China, which entailed both costs and problems for us, we managed to achieve our best result to date.' For the current year ECCO foresee continuing growth in all marketing regions and product sectors. This prediction is supported by the sales and number of orders received for the 2007 collection. Overall the company expect net sales earnings to grow by at least 10%. ECCO are planning significant investments in concept marketing, in expanding their retail trade network, and in marketing activities in the growth regions of Eastern Europe, the Near East, the USA and Asia. There are also plans for sizable investments in the mature markets of Western and Central Europe, as well as ongoing improvements in product development and in production plant and processes.