Bolton Footwear (PTY) Ltd

Bolton Footwear is a dynamic role-player in the footwear manufacture and wholesale trade. One of South Africa's leading footwear companies with an unparalleled aptitude in the manufacture of footwear, producing a wide range of locally manufactured footwear that is also complemented by a selection of well-known global licenced brands. Our journey started as early as 1859 when Charles Searle, an immigrant from England, settled as a toll keeper at Great Brak River. Like many South Africans living in remote areas, he began making his own rugged leather "veldskoen" stitch-down boots which he supplied to the operators of the ox-wagon trains transporting goods between Cape Town in the West and Port Elizabeth in the East. In 1980 the company was bought by Desmond Bolton and following the rationalisation and reconstruction of the Group, was renamed Bolton Footwear in 1987. Barker Footwear joined the stable in 2013 followed by Jordan & Co in 2015 – two major market players in their own right. Today, Bolton Footwear is one of South Africa's foremost footwear companies. All footwear offered by the Group is targeted at defined market niches, competitively priced and manufactured from the highest quality of leather and raw material available. The Group's three footwear manufacturing plants in Great Brak River, Oudtshoorn and Cape Town can produce 8 000 pairs of high-quality leather footwear per day and employ over 1100 employees across all sites. Seasonal marketing and advertising campaigns are launched on a national scale and complimented by in-store promotions and point-of-sale display materials that support retailers at the grass-root level. Participative advertising with key customers is also undertaken continuously. The company's growth over the years is a testimony to hard work, principled values and the determination of the founding members.