SV Q&A With David Cohen, CEO of Superbalist Group of Companies

Q. Please confirm the acquisition, including when it took place.
A. We recently acquired The Athlete’s Foot South Africa in September 2025; we’re really excited about it. It’s a strong, well-loved brand and it fits into what we’re building across the Superbalist Group.

Q. Why did Superbalist buy it?
A. We’ve been watching the performance running space grow rapidly. It is a space that we wanted to be a part of and when the opportunity arose to acquire The Athlete’s Foot we moved fast.
This acquisition allows us through TAF to have an additional focus on performance running and scale this business with our B&M and digital expertise.

Q. How will it operate? Will it continue under that name, and will Superbalist roll out more stores?
A. The Athlete’s Foot will continue to operate under its own name. It has a legacy we respect, and we want to keep that intact.
We have gone through a process of updating and modernising the brand look and feel and a store redesign as well that sets up The Athletes foot as a premium destination in performance running for the world’s best brands.
Behind the scenes, the brand will have the support of our Group systems, tech, logistics, buying, and data.
TAF is growing, watch this space.

Q. Does Superbalist plan more acquisitions? If so, what types of businesses, and what timelines?
A. We’re always open to new opportunities, but we don’t chase growth just for the sake of it.
If we do look at further acquisitions, it would be in categories where we know we can genuinely add value, lifestyle, fashion, youth culture, beauty, sports, any space where we can bring a brand more visibility and help it scale. There’s no set timeline, but we are in ongoing conversations and staying close to the market.

Q. Any other details you regard as relevant?
A. Across the Group, our focus remains the same: building brands that customers love, and creating experiences that feel modern, accessible, and exciting. 

In the Americas, the shoe brand has recently expanded to Shop Simon and Walmart, with Target joining the line up in December.

Clarks is doubling down on its digital presence with a number of new launches on online marketplaces around the world.

And some of the U.K.-based footwear company’s new partners, including Shein, TikTok Shop, Walmart and Target, might be a bit unexpected. The company said that these marketplaces “will help Clarks reach new consumers and make it easier for them to discover and buy its products online.”

In the U.K., Clarks has recently gone live on Shein and Secret Sales, and across Europe, the brand will expand onto Secret Sales Netherlands and Dress for Less before the end of the year.

As for the Americas, Clarks continues to build momentum in the digital segment. Already established on eBay for five years, the shoe brand has recently expanded to Shop Simon, Shein, and Walmart, with Target joining the line up in December.

Gary Champion, president of Clarks Americas, told FN exclusively that the move is meant to meet consumers where they are shopping.

“Clarks has always been able to offer footwear to a broad range of consumers through a broad range of distribution points,” Champion said. “As the retail landscape has evolved, so has the consumer.”

Champion did admit that selling on marketplaces “bring about inherent risks to any brand,” but that consumers are looking to these outlets to shop even more these days.

“By selling directly through those marketplaces, we can control the assortment being offered, the feel of the brand experience and significantly reduce the risk of price compression,” the executive noted.

This expansion into marketplaces follows the brand’s September announcement of its first owned digital marketplace in the UK, set to launch in early 2026 on Clarks.com. The new platform will host multiple trusted brands alongside Clarks, offering customers greater choice and convenience, the company said.

In addition, Clarks continues to build presence on TikTok’s shopping platform. Launching in Singapore and Malaysia in November 2024, Clarks’ TikTok Shop has now expanded to the UK and Americas, with Europe to follow in 2026. 

Durban, KZN, SA – SAFLIA is to have a change of executive director next year when Jirka Vymĕtal retires after a handover period to Zamani Oliphant.

Vymĕtal joined SAFLIA in March 2014. He said the aim was to retire by end April to ensure “a smooth and thorough handover”.

Oliphant, who is an attorney, will start on 01 February.

An article on her background, impressions of the industry so far, and plans and aspirations will follow in the December issue of S&V Footwear & Leather Goods, and an article on Vymĕtal’s career in the industry will follow in the new year. 

Cape Town, W. Cape, SA (07 November 2025) – Asics South Africa has appointed Sean van Wyk as its new GM on 01 January. He replaces Barry Mellis.

Asics’ director emerging markets EMEA, Stefan Heinrich, said in statement: “Barry has been leading our business operations in South Africa successfully since 2018 making Asics a respected brand in the territory. He navigated and guided the team through difficult COVID times and managed to grow the Asics business significantly together with our wholesale partners. We wish him all the best for his post Asics career.

“At the same time, we are very happy that Sean van Wyk will become the new General Manager of Asics in South Africa. Sean comes with over 20 years of experience in leadership roles within the sports industry, including senior marketing and sales roles in India, Middle East and South Africa. Most recently, Sean has been leading the Bounty Apparel organisation as Managing Director. He is a keen sportsman and runner completing 11 marathons.” 

New York, U.S. (12 November 2025) – Brand management company Bluestar Alliance has completed its acquisition of workwear and lifestyle brand Dickies from VF Corporation. It said in a release that “the addition of Dickies reinforces Bluestar Alliance's position as one of the world's leading brand management firms, bridging heritage, lifestyle, luxury, and cultural influence across its expanding global portfolio, specifically within its growing youth luxury division”.

Other recent acquisitions by Bluestar Alliance have been Palm Angels (2025), Off-White (2024), Scotch & Soda (2023), and Hurley (2019).

“With the addition of Dickies, Bluestar Alliance's portfolio now represents more than $13 billion in global retail sales, with more than half of revenue generated internationally, supported by over 600 licensees, 500 international retail stores, millions of engaged consumers worldwide, and dedicated teams in Costa Mesa, Columbus, New York, Amsterdam, London and Milan.”

It said Dickies' “strong following and crossover appeal between utility and streetwear make it a natural fit alongside Bluestar Alliance's culturally driven brands. Together with luxury and youth-driven labels … Dickies will further strengthen Bluestar Alliance's presence in the streetwear and contemporary apparel spaces.”

It said Dickies “will enter a new phase of expansion, leveraging the company's infrastructure and proven model of strategic partnerships, design innovation, and omnichannel distribution to scale globally with a retail and partner-first mindset. This approach will allow the brand to extend its reach by introducing new categories including denim, footwear, and elevated lifestyle offerings; collaborating with culturally relevant street, skate, and fashion brands; and expanding its global footprint in the EMEA and APAC regions, with a specific focus on Germany, Japan, South Korea, and the UAE; while preserving the authenticity and heritage that define Dickies' legacy.”

Bluestar said it “is actively looking to bring established brands with strong heritage and loyal communities into its ecosystem and growing international brand portfolio”.

LA Group, which distributes Dickies in Southern Africa, didn’t respond to a request for comment on how the change of ownership would affect distribution.