Lacoste has relocated its footwear division from London to its headquarters in Paris, eliminating 56 jobs in the UK. Of the 66 employees in the footwear team, ten have moved to Paris. According to the company, the move aims to consolidate global footwear functions at headquarters and accelerate further business development.
The affected employees were informed of the plans as early as September 2024. Lacoste stated that it offered between 25 and 30 positions in Paris and supported interested employees with visa, relocation, and housing issues. Severance packages exceeding legal requirements were agreed upon for departing employees.
The relocation is related to Lacoste's complete takeover of the footwear business. The French fashion group bought back the remaining shares in the joint venture with the British Pentland Group in 2024. Pentland had been the brand's worldwide footwear licensee since 1991, before the two companies established a joint venture for the development, production, and distribution of the shoe collections in 2018.
By integrating its shoe division into its Paris headquarters, Lacoste aims to gain greater control over key growth areas such as footwear, women's fashion, and perfume. The company is targeting a turnover of four billion euros by 2026.
