Innovation and sustainability to strengthen leadership in outdoor and winter sports
Founded by Giancarlo Zanatta in Giavera del Montello in 1963, Tecnica Group has established itself as a global point of reference for outdoor footwear and winter ski equipment. The Group’s portfolio includes iconic brands united by the same vision: transforming artisanal tradition and technical research into products that elevate the outdoor experience, in all seasons and for different audiences.
Since 2017, following Italmobiliare’s entry into its share capital with a 40% stake, Tecnica Group has inaugurated a new phase of growth and international development. The goal has been to strengthen brand identity, bring technical skills and critical components in house and, at the same time, build a more flexible and resilient supply chain, capable of responding swiftly to market dynamics. “We have a very balanced portfolio – explains Andrea Dorigo, CEO of Tecnica Group –. Our brands share an extraordinary history: 429 years of overall heritage made up of innovation, research and technical expertise handed down from generation to generation.” LOWA leads the outdoor segment with footwear designed for long-distance trekking as well as light hiking. Nordica, Tecnica and Blizzard preside over the ‘alpine’ world with boots and skis that are the result of years of engineering know-how and performance testing. Moon Boot has transformed an iconic style into a contemporary platform capable of engaging with fashion, while Rollerblade is such an iconic brand that it has become synonymous with its own category. “We produce almost 4 million pairs of footwear, more than 700,000 ski boots, over 300,000 skis and about 300,000 pairs of inline skates every year – Dorigo points out –. Behind these numbers stand 3,700 people who bring our products to life. We are ‘makers’, craftsmen of innovation: this is our real strength.”
Product innovation is supproted by “system” innovation, which links sustainability, engineering and organization along the entire life cycle of the product. In this journey, as Andrea Dorigo observes, “being manufacturers is a great advantage, but also a responsibility: we want to keep in-house what generates value and identity, while at the same time exploiting the flexibility of a global supply chain to broaden and accelerate the development of our offering.” In parallel, the Group is simplifying structures and processes, streamlining certain local presences and strengthening commercial and digital tools, reinforcing relationships with retailers and consumers and improving overall efficiency.
Among the most representative projects is Recycle Your Boots, which embodies the Group’s most experimental soul. “It all started from a simple idea: giving ski boots a second life – Dorigo continues – We collect used boots, dismantle them and recycle every useful component; it is an evolving project that has led us to design products conceived from the outset to be recyclable and that will grow in the coming years.” This vision is reflected in the Group’s ESG approach, which has joined the United Nations Global Compact and has been publishing its Sustainability Report since 2022.
The Group’s evolution is also reflected in its results: since Italmobiliare’s entry, Tecnica Group’s revenues and EBITDA have recorded compound annual growth rates of 5% and 13%, respectively. In the coming years, the Group aims to consolidate the European market, which remains the main one, and to expand its presence in the USA and APAC, two areas with great development potential. Dorigo concludes: “In outdoor we have an ambitious plan for LOWA, which operates in one of the most dynamic segments of sport. At the same time, we will continue to evolve the more mature brands – Nordica, Tecnica and Blizzard – expanding their reach and strengthening their positioning. Without forgetting Moon Boot, a brand we are repositioning from ski slopes to cities, and which remains a key asset for the Group.”