CALZEDONIA

Calzedonia is the leading Italian underwear company that owns Intimissimi, Falconeri, Signorvino, Atelier Emè and Tezenis

Calzedonia is a manufacturer of socks, swimwear and underwear. It was founded in 1987 in Vallese di Oppeano (near Verona) from an idea of Sandro Veronesi.

The challenge: an initial capital of 500 million lire. An intuition that would lead to exponential growth in the field of selling socks and costumes for women, men and children through a franchise store. The project worked for the Calzedonia brand (homonymous of the company).

Thus, in ’96, the same concept was extended to underwear and clothing at night with the birth of the second brand: Intimissimi. Just over 16 years after its launch, the Calzedonia and Intimissimi network boasted more than 1200 stores around the world. In Spain (one of the countries where the number of stores is among the strongest, over 140 stores), Austria, Portugal, Greece, Poland, Turkey, Mexico, Bosnia, Hungary, Cyprus, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.

Julia Roberts witness of Calzedonia

The headquarters is in Valais where 400 people work, all young, with an average age of around 25 years and mostly women who represent 85% of the production force. The company organization is also at the forefront in the relationship with employees. In 2001 a company crèche was also inaugurated, one of the most interesting in Europe, for the children of employees between six months and three years of age.

In addition to Veneto, other production units are located in Avio, in Trentino, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania and Sri Lanka. In the latter two countries underwear is produced.

Another initiative is the Fondazione San Zeno, founded in 1999 with the aim of financially supporting those projects aimed at the professional preparation of young people, from all over the world, marginalized or disadvantaged.

In 2009, Gruppo Calzedonia acquired Falconeri: a brand specialized in the production of high quality cashmere knitwear. In 2015, Atelier Emè, a brand specialized in wedding and formal wear, joined the group.

Calzedonia’s current situation

In 2018, with a careful marketing strategy, Calzedonia surveyed the US market with an event, organized at the Verona headquarters, which involved 180 influencers from 40 different countries. On the catwalk the garments of the beachwear collection were exhibited.

Among the guests there were Miss Universe Olivia Culpo and fashion blogger Charlotte Groeneveld who have at least millions of followers on Instagram. With this move, the brand is planning to focus on digital influencers and social media and push the ecommerce platform.

Calzedonia
Falconeri

In 2019, the company closed with a turnover of 2.4 billion euros and a growth of 4.7% compared to the previous year.

With the opening of 188 new stores, the Calzedonia group increased its retail network in France, Russia, Japan, Germany, China and the United States. At the end of 2019 it had 4,859 stores worldwide, with a presence in 54 new countries. In the same year, it also invested 2 million euros in technology to improve digital and physical channels.

To counter the advance of the Covid-19 pandemic, intervening in favour of the health workers involved in the front row, Calzedonia reconverted the plants in Avio (Trento), Gissi (Chieti), and those in Croatia, producing face masks and white coats.

In 2021 the turnover of the Calzedonia Group amounted to 2,505 million euros, with an increase of +29.1 percent at current exchange rates (+30.5 percent at constant exchange rates) compared to 1,941 million on the 31st of December 2020.

Growth compared to 2019 turnover was 3.9 percent

“The investments had a value of more than 160 million euros both on the commercial front, strengthening and renewing the retail channel and integrating it more and more into the e-commerce channel, and on the logistics and production front, with investments in cutting-edge technologies to maintain the Group’s plants always innovative. EBITDA exceeded 760 million euros, up compared to 531 million in 2020”, underlined Sandro Veronesi, President of the Calzedonia Group, in a note announcing the preliminary data for the 2021 financial year.

The share of foreign turnover in total turnover was 56 percent

The company also confirmed that the share of foreign turnover in total turnover was 56 percent. The volume of sales achieved with the e-commerce channel was also growing. Also in 2021, the Group invested heavily in technological and digital infrastructures with the aim of synergistically integrating the network of points of sale and online sales, in order to offer consumers a wide range of purchasing alternatives suitable for different local contexts.

The development of points of sale abroad and in Italy continued: during the year the balance of openings showed an increase of 176 new stores, of which 139 abroad. As of 31.12.2021, a total of 5,076 points of sale operated under the Group’s brands, of which 3,288 abroad and 1,788 in Italy.

In 2021, the group resumed the path of growth and consolidation for Signorvino and Atelier Emé, the brands most penalized by the pandemic. In Italy, 6 new Signorvino stores were inaugurated during the year.

In 2021 the turnover of the Calzedonia Group amounted to 2,505 million euros, with an increase of +29.1 percent at current exchange rates (+30.5 percent at constant exchange rates) compared to 1,941 million at the 31st of December 2020.

In 2022, the development of Intimissimi Uomo continued and the redevelopment and modernization of the existing Calzedonia, Intimissimi and Tezenis stores continued.

In September 2022, the Calzedonia Group acquired 80% of Antonio Marras S.r.l. and invested in the relaunch. Sandro Veronesi’s Group offered its production experience and financial strength to enhance the creativity of the designer Marras. The art of Marras, combined with the organization and efficiency of the footwear holding, prefigured a great success.

 

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