New Balance "has shrugged off Brexit fears" and committed to the U.K., where it employs around 600 workers, according to the PA. New Balance CEO Rob DeMartini said that the brand "is staying put and the future of the firm's factory in Flimby, Cumbria, is secure." He said, "We have faced plenty of political and economic challenges before and we are committed to the U.K., our European headquarters are here. We're not going anywhere." DeMartini added that Brexit will bring the U.S. and the U.K. closer together, saying, "We've been friends a long, long time." New Balance, "best known for its footwear and more recently for bagging a kit deal" with Liverpool, turned over $3.8B in sales last year (PA, 10/30).
BACK IN THE U.K.: EXPRESS's Geoff Ho reported New Balance will "bring production of its premium football boots" back to the U.K. for the first time since '81. It "will sell the boots through its website and flagship stores." On Thursday the firm opened its biggest non-U.S. outlet store on Oxford Street, which covers three floors and 950 square feet. DeMartini said that "demand for the firm’s British-manufactured trainers was strong and that the firm will keep producing them at its plant at Flimby" (EXPRESS, 10/30).
