Hotter Shoes is shifting the majority of its footwear production back to the UK from India with its domestic factory expecting to produce one million pairs annually.

Hotter, which is known for its comfort footwear, was acquired out of administration last summer by WoolOvers for £6.7 million. Its chief executive Mike Lester told The Times newspaper that one of the first jobs was to reverse a planned “phasing out” of manufacturing at its factory in Skelmersdale, Lancashire.

With the aim of restoring its claim to be Britain’s biggest shoemaker, Lester said he sees a “promising” future for the factory and is in the process of hiring an additional 15 people to the existing team of 120.

It’s targeting domestic production for 75% of the shoes Hotter sells, up from less than 25% currently, “having significantly increased the amount we are producing in our factory,” he says.

​Lester noted that shifting the bulk of production from India to Britain “is only very slightly more expensive… but if we can put more volume through [the factory] then that increases the [profit] margin. It is a win-win for us.” 

He added: “We want to make [product] here, employ people and control the quality, the customer gets what they want and it is a better story for the UK. We can make it here and compete with competition from India.”

The WoolOvers increased investment is part of a reversal in fortunes for the Hotter brand which had seen its physical presence reduced from 61 retail units in 2020 to 26 last summer. 

Although sales fell from £101 million in 2018 to £45 million in 2022, they’re back up to £50 million in the first year after administration and the business is profitable, noted Lester.

Hotter’s now trading from 30 stores, as well as online and through catalogues, with its latest store having just opened in Cirencester, Gloucestershire.

Lester said emotion plays a big part in its key customers’ purchasing decision. They’re typically aged over 55, value their shoes being made locally as much as appreciating product comfort and value, he said.

In addition to buying Hotter in 2023, WoolOvers also acquired homewares business Scotts of Stow and Thought clothing, whose bamboo socks are sold in outlets such as National Trust gift shops.

“The common characteristic of all these businesses was that they were all focused on an older demographic,” Lester added.