Hi-Tec
{{Short description|Privately held producer and distributor of sportswear and accessories}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Hi-Tec Sports
| logo = File:Logo of Hi-Tec Sports.svg
| 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
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.hi-tec.com/}}
|parent = Cherokee Inc.
}}
Hi-Tec Sports, trading as Hi-Tec,{{cite web|url=http://www.hi-tec.com/|website=Hi-Tec|accessdate=13 June 2016|title=HI-TEC}} is a privately held{{cite news|last1=Brettman|first1=Allan|title=Hi-Tec Sports banks on Zuuk shoe for market distinction|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/playbooks-profits/index.ssf/2013/05/hi-tec_sports_banks_on_zuuk_sh.html|accessdate=28 July 2015|work=Oregon Live|date=May 14, 2013}} producer and distributor of sportswear and accessories, headquartered in the Netherlands.{{cite news|last1=Cyr|first1=Brian|title=Hi-Tec Sports, the footwear and apparel brand, hires U.S.-based design director|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/playbooks-profits/index.ssf/2013/11/hi-tec_sports_the_footwear_and.html|accessdate=28 July 2015|work=Oregon Live|date=November 19, 2013}}
History
Hi-Tec Sports was founded in 1974,{{cite web|title=Our History|url=http://www.hi-tec.com/uk/our-history.html|publisher=HI-TEC UK|accessdate=28 July 2015|archive-date=30 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150730160438/http://www.hi-tec.com/uk/our-history.html|url-status=dead}} in Shoeburyness, Essex, England,{{cite news|last1=Brettman|first1=Allan|title=Hi-Tec Sports footwear CEO had to prove mettle to founder|url=http://blog.oregonlive.com/playbooksandprofits/2011/06/hi-tec_sports_footwear_ceo_had.html|accessdate=28 July 2015|work=Oregon Live|date=June 17, 2011}} by Frank Van Wezel. The company moved its headquarters to Southend-on-Sea,{{cite news|title=Hi-Tec vows to stay in Southend|url=http://www.southendstandard.co.uk/news/9728591.Hi_Tec_vows_to_stay_in_Southend/?ref=mr|accessdate=28 July 2015|work=Southend Standard|date=26 May 2012}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.outsidebusinessjournal.com/brands/hi-tec-sports-usa-acquires-historic-maine-shoe-factory/ | title=Hi-Tec Sports Acquires Historic Maine Shoe Factory| date=28 March 2005}}
In 2013, Hi-Tec founder and chairman Frank van Wezel, was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Business Administration by Anglia Ruskin University.{{Cite web |url=http://www.anglia.ac.uk/ruskin/en/home/microsites/honorary/frank_van_wezel.html |title=Anglia Ruskin University's Honorary Graduate Site |access-date=2014-04-16 |archive-date=2014-04-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416205642/http://www.anglia.ac.uk/ruskin/en/home/microsites/honorary/frank_van_wezel.html |url-status=dead }}
In 2016, it was acquired by Cherokee Inc., later known as Apex Global Brands.{{Cite press release|url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2016/11/28/893244/0/en/Cherokee-Global-Brands-Announces-Intent-to-Acquire-Hi-Tec-Sports-International.html| title=Cherokee Global Brands Announces Intent to Acquire Hi-Tec Sports Intl| date=28 November 2016}}
Awards
In 2012, Hi-Tec's V-Lite Altitude Ultra Luxe boot received a Which? Best Buy Walking Boot award.{{Cite web |url=http://www.hi-tec.com/uk/why-us.html |title=Why Hi-Tec? | Hi-Tec UK - Free Delivery |access-date=2014-04-16 |archive-date=2014-04-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416185024/http://www.hi-tec.com/uk/why-us.html |url-status=dead }}
Hi-Tec's ZUUK trainer shoe was awarded Footwear Product of the Year 2013 at The Great Outdoors Awards.{{Cite web |url=http://members.outdoorindustriesassociation.co.uk/news/info.php?refnum=95 |title=HI-TEC ZUUK WINS FOOTWEAR PRODUCT OF THE YEAR AWARD - News |access-date=2014-04-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416175945/http://members.outdoorindustriesassociation.co.uk/news/info.php?refnum=95 |archive-date=2014-04-16 |url-status=dead }}
The UK based Hi-Tec office was announced Sports Footwear Brand of the Year 2014{{Cite web |url=http://www.footwearindustryawards.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/118/Footwear_Industry_Awards_2014_finalists_announced!.html |title=Footwear Industry Awards 2014 finalists announced! - the Footwear Industry Awards |access-date=2014-04-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416192005/http://www.footwearindustryawards.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/118/Footwear_Industry_Awards_2014_finalists_announced!.html |archive-date=2014-04-16 |url-status=dead }} and Outdoor Footwear Company of the Year 2013 at the Footwear Industry Awards.{{Cite web |url=http://members.outdoorindustriesassociation.co.uk/news/info.php?refnum=73 |title=Hi-Tec voted Outdoor Footwear Brand of the Year - News |access-date=2014-04-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416210228/http://members.outdoorindustriesassociation.co.uk/news/info.php?refnum=73 |archive-date=2014-04-16 |url-status=dead }}
References
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{{Sports equipment brands}}
Category:Shoe companies of the Netherlands
Category:Shoe companies of the United Kingdom
Category:Sporting goods manufacturers of the Netherlands
Category:Clothing companies established in 1974
Category:1974 establishments in England
Category:Manufacturing companies based in Amsterdam
Category:Outdoor clothing brands
Category:Companies formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange