UK company to manufacture shoes in India

London (PTI): The new owner of an ailing Leicester-based shoe company has announced that under the new management, shoes will now be manufactured in India.

Equity Shoes, a 123-year-old company, was closed last month and went into voluntary liquidation after failing to find a buyer. However, it has now been bought by York-based Pavers Shows.

Stuart Paver, managing director of Pavers Shoes, said,

"We are continuing to sell the shoes from Leicester, as well as design and develop them in the city. The manufacturing will be transferred to India."

Paver said his company had been dealing with Equity for the past 30 years and knew the business very well.

Officials at Equity Shoes, which was running as a co-operative, blamed its demise on falling sales and competition from cheap imports.

Duncan Harrod, spokesman for the Community Union, which represented Equity workers, said: "We are always happy to see footwear jobs safeguarded in the UK, but it's a shame Equity shoes will not continue to be made in the UK."

Source: http://www.hindu.com/