The Wourth Group, the newly-renamed business that owns Hotter Shoes, now also owns clothing firm Peter Hahn, having bought it out of administration in a deal that should propel the combined company’s annual turnover up almost threefold with a rise to £300 million from £110 million.

The transaction should complete by the end of this month and sees Peter Hahn separated from the TriStyle Group. It will be run as an independent company by its new owner with a focus on the Western European market. 

Wourth said its various businesses will be able to benefit significantly from each other and Peter Hahn’s strong presence in the DACH region and the Netherlands will bring a large number of new customers to the British business.

Formerly known as Woolovers Group, Wourth — under CEO Mike Lester — also owns Scotts of Stow and Thought Clothing, with CEO Mike Lester highlighting the 50+ age group that all four brands target.

Wourth acquired Hotter a little over a year ago for less than £7 million after Hotter’s ambitious multibrand marketplace model failed to take off and drove the business to the brink of collapse.

Lester told Drapers that Hotter is now expected to double its turnover this year to £52 million with the company pre-Peter Hahn predicting a 25% turnover uplift to the aforementioned £110 million.

The firm is laser-focused on its 50+ demographic with it increasing store numbers (Hotter had earlier close a raft of stores and gone mainly-digital) and committing to its printed catalogues, while also offering the full digital experience.

It has also boosted its UK manufacturing, reversing the offshoring trend put in place by Hotter’s previous management and the majority of pieces are now made in Britain.

Peter Hahn, however, is a brand largely focused on Europe. It continues to operate in German-speaking countries and the Netherlands but the prospects for reopening its UK webstore are unclear, Lester added.