Italian footwear chains PittaRosso and Scarpe&Scarpe, which together constitute the country’s leading footwear retail group, with some 300 stores and an aggregate revenue of €480 million, have deployed a strategic relaunch plan. They are set to open new stores across Italy, upgrade some of the key existing ones, and broaden the product range on offer.

 
Both chains have recently invested heavily in their retail operations. Scarpe&Scarpe has opened new stores in Rome and Pontedera (near Pisa), and has upgraded some of its existing stores in the Sicily and Campania regions. PittaRosso has re-opened the Cosenza and Viterbo stores, deployed new retail corners within the OVS and Upim department store chains in Italy, and opened a store in Cologno Monzese (near Milan) introducing a revamped retail format.
 
The relaunch plan will also tap significant synergies in order to optimise purchasing, logistics, IT systems and store management operations across the two chains, with the goal of improving efficiency and profitability for both.

“While [PittaRosso and Scarpe&Scarpe] remain independent companies, this ambitious expansion plan will enable the chains to reach key objectives in terms of the satisfaction of their customers, who will be able to access more easily a broader and more diversified range of products. In parallel, the plan will trigger significant synergies, helping create greater value for all our stakeholders,” said Marcello Pace, CEO of both chains.

“PittaRosso and Scarpe&Scarpe are two retailers characterised by a very similar distribution model, and are the ideal platform for their clientèle’s shopping needs. They are present in all of Italy’s leading shopping malls and retail parks, capturing significant footfall, while their stand-alone stores on the main urban thoroughfares and city-centre high streets satisfy their customers’ proximity needs. This strong physical retail presence is combined, through their omni-channel strategy, with an e-tail presence via two e-commerce sites that are in direct competition with the online market’s main players,” added Pace.
 
Scarpe&Scarpe was founded over 50 years ago and is present throughout Italy with 135 stores, with an average retail surface of 1,200 square metres, and an e-shop. In 2023, the chain generated a revenue of €210 million, and has 1,550 employees. PittaRosso SpA was founded in Padua in the early 20th century. It operates approximately 150 directly run stores and has 1,400 employees. In 2023, it recorded a revenue of over €270 million.