ESSEN. Subject to the agreement of the cartel office, the DEICHMANN group will take over all international rights to the men’s shoe brand Gallus from its current owner. That has now been agreed by both partners. At the same time it was also agreed not to disclose the purchase price.
The Austrian producer of men’s shoes had declared bankruptcy at the end of 2004 and ceased production. Subsequently, DEICHMANN acquired all rights to the Gallus brand from the current owner.
"We anticipate a successful future in the shoe market for the Gallus brand ", commented Heinrich Deichmann, chairman of the management of Europe’s largest shoe retailer.
"Over the last weeks we have taken over the still remaining existing Gallus stock, which we have put on special offer in our shops. The reaction of our customers has encouraged us to buy the rights to the brand", continued Deichmann. Spring 2006 will see a new Gallus collection at DEICHMANN. The collection in the well-known quality brand combined with low-cost DEICHMANN prices is supposed to be a real alternative for the quality conscious buyer of men’s shoes. Internationally the brand will be sold amongst other in Deichmann’s entire ca. 1,600 European outlets.
Similar to its own brands, DEICHMANN will apply its international procurement and logistics know how and its sales experience to position Gallus successfully. Resulting from its tradition as retailer, the company has no production facilities of its own, but cooperates worldwide with trusted partners and producers, who guarantee first class quality. Building up the new collection, DEICHMANN orientates itself to the well-known Gallus quality standards and will therefore cooperate amongst others also with current manufacturers of the brand.
So far, the brand Borelli has been part of DEICHMANN’s upper price segment. Over the past years, the company had offered – unrivalled – low priced frame-sewn full leather shoes under this label. 
"The acquisition of brands such as "elefanten" und "Gallus" means an extension of the current product range", says Heinrich Deichmann. "We intent to strengthen our range in the area of high-quality brand products. However, here too, as common with the rest of DEICHMANN, we want to offer a very good price/performance ratio. In the past we have been able to already successfully realize this with the brand "Medicus."
DEICHMANN, which has been present in the market as shoe retailer since 1913, is today the market leader both in Germany and Europe with a strong supporting leg in the USA. The company employs about 22,000 members of staff in twelve countries in a total of 2,000 outlets, of which 1,000 are located in Germany, where about 12,000 members of staff are employed.