Pentland Group continues award winning streak
Pentland Group has added another family business honour to its haul for the year, winning the 22nd annual IMD Global Family Business International Award.
The win followed swiftly on the heels of the UK retail business winning EY's UK Family Business of Excellence award in October. Pentland also won the top accolade at CampdenFB's European Families in Business Awards back in 2014.
Andy Rubin, Pentland Group director and chairman of Pentland Brands, said he was proud of what the company had achieved over three generations.
“As a private, family owned business we focus on long term, sustainable growth,” Rubin said. “We are constantly learning and evolving and are passionate about our people, our brands, our customers and being good corporate citizens.”
Each year IMD recognises a successful business which is an “exemplary” example of uniting family and business interests, combining tradition and innovation, while demonstrating clear corporate social responsibility.
Pentland was founded in 1932 in Liverpool, as a shoe distributor and manufacturer. It later diversified into other businesses, only to re-focus and become a “family of brands” in the sports and fashion industries.
Today it is headquartered in London, with annual sales in excess of $3 billion, across 190 countries.
Pentland's brands include Berghaus, Canterbury of New Zealand, Speedo, Boxfresh, Ellesse, KangaROOS, Mitre, and Red or Dead. It is also the global licensee for Lacoste Chaussures and Ted Baker footwear, the UK licensee for Kickers, and has shares in other retailers including JD Sports Fashion Limited, Hunter Boot, Butterfly Twists, Heidi Klein and Tracksmith.
The IMD award was presented at the 28th Summit of the Family Business Network International (FBN-I) in Gran Canaria, Spain, with IMD president Jean-François Manzoni describing Pentland as a “flagbearer for family business excellence”.
“Pentland Group plc is an outstanding organization that has for decades successfully blended an enduring venturing and entrepreneurial spirit with a strong commitment to sustainability, human rights and environment throughout its value chain,” Manzoni said.
