Hi-Tec Explained

Hi-Tec Sports
Type:	Subsidiary
Foundation:	1974
Founder:	Frank van Wezel
Hq Location Country:	Netherlands
Hq Location City:	Amsterdam
Key People:	Frank van Wezel (Chairman) Ed van Wezel(CEO)
Industry:	Sportswear and accessories
Products:	Sportswear, sports equipment
Area Served:	Worldwide
Revenue:	$250USD million
Num Employees:	500
Parent:	Cherokee Inc.

Hi-Tec Sports, trading as Hi-Tec,^[1] is a privately held^[2] producer and distributor of sportswear and accessories, headquartered in the Netherlands.^[3]

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. Frank van Wezel bought the company back in 2000. It was privately held through 2013.

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]

Notes and References

1. Web site: HI-TEC. Hi-Tec. 13 June 2016.
2. News: Brettman. Allan. Hi-Tec Sports banks on Zuuk shoe for market distinction. 28 July 2015. Oregon Live. May 14, 2013.
3. News: Cyr. Brian. Hi-Tec Sports, the footwear and apparel brand, hires U.S.-based design director. 28 July 2015. Oregon Live. November 19, 2013.
4. Web site: Our History. HI-TEC UK. 28 July 2015. 30 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150730160438/http://www.hi-tec.com/uk/our-history.html. dead.
5. News: Brettman. Allan. Hi-Tec Sports footwear CEO had to prove mettle to founder. 28 July 2015. Oregon Live. June 17, 2011.
6. News: Hi-Tec vows to stay in Southend. 28 July 2015. Southend Standard. 26 May 2012.
7. Web site: Hi-Tec Sports Acquires Historic Maine Shoe Factory. 28 March 2005.
8. Web site: Anglia Ruskin University's Honorary Graduate Site . 2014-04-16 . 2014-04-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140416205642/http://www.anglia.ac.uk/ruskin/en/home/microsites/honorary/frank_van_wezel.html . dead .
9. Cherokee Global Brands Announces Intent to Acquire Hi-Tec Sports Intl. 28 November 2016.
10. Web site: Why Hi-Tec? | Hi-Tec UK - Free Delivery . 2014-04-16 . 2014-04-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140416185024/http://www.hi-tec.com/uk/why-us.html . dead .
11. Web site: HI-TEC ZUUK WINS FOOTWEAR PRODUCT OF THE YEAR AWARD - News . 2014-04-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140416175945/http://members.outdoorindustriesassociation.co.uk/news/info.php?refnum=95 . 2014-04-16 . dead .
12. Web site: Footwear Industry Awards 2014 finalists announced! - the Footwear Industry Awards . 2014-04-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140416192005/http://www.footwearindustryawards.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/118/Footwear_Industry_Awards_2014_finalists_announced!.html . 2014-04-16 . dead .
13. Web site: Hi-Tec voted Outdoor Footwear Brand of the Year - News . 2014-04-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140416210228/http://members.outdoorindustriesassociation.co.uk/news/info.php?refnum=73 . 2014-04-16 . dead .