Japanese business steps forward to buy Rossendale footwear group

Gola, the iconic 121-year-old heritage sportswear brand headquartered in Rossendale, has been bought by a Japanese business backed by legendary investor Warren Buffett.

The deal sees the Marubeni Corporation’s US subsidiary RG Barry acquire the Jacobson Group, whose lifestyle footwear brands include Gola, famous for its football and Britpop links, as well as Lotus, Ravel and Frank Wright.

Its portfolio also includes licensed brands Dunlop and Lonsdale and the company distributes its products in more than 30 countries, primarily across the UK, North America, and Europe.

No figure has officially been put on the deal, which is part of Marubeni’s strategy to build a US lifestyle brand business platform anchored by RG Barry. However, one report has put the figure at $64m.

The acquisition has been timed to coincide with the retirement of Harvey Jacobson, the founder and executive chairman of the group that bears his name.

The well-known North West entrepreneur started the business with his brother in the early 80s and it has grown from a family company into a globally recognised, multi-brand footwear giant, with a turnover in 2024 of more than £36m.  

The main driver for growth was Gola’s US and European sales and the business, based in Rawtenstall, has forecast further revenue growth of more than 40 per cent by its 2025 year end.

Harvey, whose early life was spent helping his father on Saturday mornings selling shoes on market stalls, said: “I am hugely proud of everything Jacobson Group has achieved since my brother and I launched the business in 1982.

“It has been a privilege to steward these iconic British footwear brands, and I would like to thank all our employees for the commitment and dedication they have shown to our family business over many decades.

“As we look to the future, Marubeni and RGB Brands offer the ideal platform, vision, and long-term commitment to take Jacobson’s brands into their next phase of growth.

“I am confident the business will continue to go from strength to strength, and I wish everyone at Jacobson, RGB and Marubeni every success as they embark on this exciting new chapter together.”

The business will continue to be led by its existing leadership team of Tony Evans, Gary Shutt, Jonathan Jacobson, and Donna Hill.

Chief executive Tony Evans said: “We have never been in a stronger position, and joining this platform will allow us to build on that momentum while remaining true to the values that make Jacobson Group so special.

“This acquisition represents a major milestone for the business, and I look forward to working closely with the RGB and Marubeni teams to drive growth across the globe.”

RG Barry has been busy in recent months. In November it announced an agreement in principle to acquire the global licence for Clarks shoes and the US licence for Timberland from Green Market Services.

President and chief executive Bob Mullaney described the Jacobson deal as a ‘transformative moment’ for the business. The deal comes as more consumers turn to retro styles.

He said: “Gola brings cultural relevance and global ambition, and the broader Jacobson portfolio extends the platform’s reach across lifestyle and heritage categories.

“Our values are closely aligned, and we are committed to investing in what already makes these brands distinctive. 

“By pairing Jacobson’s strengths with RGB’s scale, infrastructure, and operational excellence, we are well-positioned to accelerate growth across key international markets.”

Gola can trace its history back to 1905. It rose in popularity in the 1960s, supplying boots to Liverpool FC and gaining and endorsement from England’s 1966 World Cup winning manager Alf Ramsey. He later sat on the Gola board as a non-executive director.

Harvey Jacobson bought Gola in 1996 and as it grew into a lifestyle brand it was sported by Britpop legends including Robbie Williams and Oasis’ Gallagher brothers.

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway investment arm increased its stake in five trading houses Japan in March, including Marubeni, and according to reports it holds around nine per cent of the business.

The 95-year-old is one of the best-known investors in the world and according to reports is the 10th richest person in the world. He stepped down as Berkshire Hathaway’s chief executive at the start of 2026. He remains its chairman.