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Footwear Manufacturing in the UK - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Martha Garcia Guerrero Martha Garcia Guerrero London, United Kingdom Last Updated: June 2024 SIC C15.200

Revenue

£1.1bn

2024-25

£1.1bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£XX.Xm

Employees

4,297

Businesses

199

Wages

£XXX.Xm

Footwear Manufacturing in the UK industry analysis

The Footwear Manufacturing industry's revenue is expected to rally at a compound annual rate of 4.2% to just over £1 billion over the five years through 2024-25. Expansion has been facilitated by various government policies targeting innovation within the broader textiles manufacturing sector and growing interest in high-quality British footwear. British independent cobblers have aimed to capitalise on heritage brands and expand their presence abroad.

Trends and Insights

  • Men's leather shoes drive industry growth. The classic high-quality craftsmanship of British footwear manufacturers keeps a stable domestic and international demand for leather footwear.
  • Quality men's leather footwear dominates. This segment thrives on traditions and high-end craftsmanship, driving substantial revenue through premium pricing.
  • Northamptonshire leads in UK shoemaking. Home to renowned brands like Church's and Loake, Northamptonshire remains a major hub for high-quality domestic footwear manufacturing in the East Midlands.
  • UK shoemakers focus on the luxury market. Due to increased competition and production costs, UK manufacturers produce high-end, bespoke footwear to maintain demand and profitability.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 4.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £1.1bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Quality shoes are the main selling point for UK shoemakers

  • Interest in high-quality, British-manufactured footwear is the principal driver of UK footwear sales.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Footwear Manufacturing in the UK
Revenue (2014-2029)
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Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Consumer sentiment set to push shoemakers to use eco-friendly materials

  • Environmental awareness and interest in ethical and sustainably sourced products are likely to encourage the development of footwear made from alternative materials.

Biggest companies in the Footwear Manufacturing in the UK

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue (£m)
2025
New Balance Athletic Shoes (UK) Ltd
594.1
Beaconsfield Footwear Ltd
54.0
Loake Brothers Ltd
27.6

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Footwear Manufacturing in the UK
Products & Services
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Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Women's leather shoes and boots, Men's leather shoes and boots and Sports footwear. Women's leather shoes and boots is the largest segment of the Footwear Manufacturing in the UK.

Trends and Insights

Luxury men's leather shoes and boots are the bread and butter of UK shoemakers

  • Manufacturers make leather shoes and boots for men.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Companies in this industry manufacture footwear from leather and other materials. Manufacturers in this industry also produce footwear parts (e.g., uppers, outer and inner soles, and heels), gaiters, leggings and similar articles.

What's included in this industry?

Women's leather shoes and bootsMen's leather shoes and bootsSports footwearChildren’s and infants’ footwear

Companies

New Balance Athletic Shoes (UK) LtdBeaconsfield Footwear LtdLoake Brothers Ltd

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

GAITERSRE-EXPORTGOODYEAR WELTINGUPPERS

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 15.20 - Footwear Manufacturing in the UK

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Men's leather shoes drive industry growth. The classic high-quality craftsmanship of British footwear manufacturers keeps a stable domestic and international demand for leath...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Quality men's leather footwear dominates. This segment thrives on traditions and high-end craftsmanship, driving substantial revenue through premium pricing.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Northamptonshire leads in UK shoemaking. Home to renowned brands like Church's and Loake, Northamptonshire remains a major hub for high-quality domestic footwear manufacturin...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

UK shoemakers focus on the luxury market. Due to increased competition and production costs, UK manufacturers produce high-end, bespoke footwear to maintain demand and profit...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Investment in sports drives New Balance's growth. New Balance's strategic investments in football, cricket, and tennis have led to increased brand recognition and consumer lo...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of New Balance Athletic Shoes (UK) Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Beaconsfield Footwear Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Loake Brothers Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for New Balance Athletic Shoes (UK) Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Beaconsfield Footwear Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Loake Brothers Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

UK faces import tariffs on footwear. Duties can reach 55%, depending on the country of origin and shoe components, with most rates below 20%.

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Profit margins shrink amid rising costs. The shoemaking industry is grappling with reduced profit margins due to intense import competition and mounting material expenses.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Assets (2018-2022)
  • Liabilities (2018-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Footwear Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?

The market size of the Footwear Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £1.1bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Footwear Manufacturing in the UK industry in 2024?

There are 199 businesses in the Footwear Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Footwear Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Footwear Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 4.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Footwear Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Footwear Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Footwear Manufacturing in the UK market in United Kingdom?

The biggest companies operating in the Footwear Manufacturing market in United Kingdom are New Balance Athletic Shoes (UK) Ltd, Beaconsfield Footwear Ltd and Loake Brothers Ltd

What does the Footwear Manufacturing in the UK in United Kingdom include?

Women's leather shoes and boots and Men's leather shoes and boots are part of the Footwear Manufacturing in the UK industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Footwear Manufacturing in the UK in United Kingdom?

The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is New Balance Athletic Shoes (UK) Ltd.

How competitive is the Footwear Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Footwear Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

Complementors

  • Clothing Manufacturing in the UK
  • Footwear Retailers in the UK

International industries

  • Global Footwear Manufacturing
  • Shoe & Footwear Manufacturing in the US
  • Shoe & Footwear Manufacturing in Canada
  • Footwear Manufacturing in Australia
  • Footwear Manufacturing in China

View all industries in United Kingdom

Methodology

How are Alfabank-Adres reports created?

Alfabank-Adres has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for Alfabank-Adres readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of Alfabank-Adres’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

Alfabank-Adres relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do Alfabank-Adres analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the UK include:

  • Office for National Statistics
  • Office for Budget Responsibility
  • Bank of England

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, Alfabank-Adres’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does Alfabank-Adres forecast its data?

Alfabank-Adres’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

Alfabank-Adres prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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