Japanese conglomerate adds British footwear portfolio as retro trainers regain global relevance
Japan’s Marubeni has acquired British sportswear label Gola through the purchase of Jacobson Group, expanding its footprint in the global lifestyle and footwear market.
The transaction, announced Wednesday, was executed via Marubeni’s subsidiary Marubeni Consumer Platform US. Alongside Gola, the deal brings a portfolio of owned brands including Lotus, Ravel, and Frank Wright, as well as licensed labels Dunlop and Lonsdale. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Jacobson Group will be folded into Marubeni’s lifestyle platform strategy, reinforcing the conglomerate’s push into consumer-facing brands with established heritage and international distribution potential. The acquisition aligns with renewed market interest in retro-inspired trainers, a category that has gained momentum across Europe and the United States.
Founded in 1905, Gola built its reputation in the mid-20th century, particularly during the 1960s and 1970s, when its trainers and football shoes were worn by players at Liverpool Football Club and by England’s 1966 World Cup–winning manager Alf Ramsey. While the brand later lost ground amid the rise of global sportswear giants, its acquisition by Jacobson Group in 1996 marked a revival centered on heritage styling and cultural cachet.
That repositioning attracted a following among high-profile figures including Paul Weller, Liam Gallagher, Robbie Williams, and actor Jude Law, helping to reintroduce Gola to a style-conscious audience.
According to a corporate filing, Jacobson Group posted turnover of £36.4 million ($49 million) in 2024, supported by Gola’s performance across Europe and the U.S., and projected revenue growth of 40 percent in 2025. The sale also marks a leadership transition, with founder and executive chairman Harvey Jacobson set to retire following the deal.
For Marubeni, the acquisition underscores a broader strategy focused on scalable consumer brands with cross-market appeal. As heritage-driven footwear continues to intersect with contemporary fashion cycles, Gola’s long history and recent growth trajectory position it as a strategic asset within the conglomerate’s expanding lifestyle portfolio.