Hi-Tec

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.[2] Frank van Wezel bought the company back in 2000. It was privately held through 2013.[2]

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]