A Bold Vision For The Future

Founded in 1932 in the heart of Liverpool, today Pentland Brands is the owner of some of the world’s leading sports, active and outdoor brands. Starting as a shoe distributor and later manufacturer, Pentland has diversified throughout its almost hundred-year history to become a “family of brands” including household names such as Speedo, Berghaus, ellesse and Mitre.

The group prides itself on its family business status, placing the values of honesty, fairness, respect and hard work at the core of its operations.

A Vision For The Future

As Pentland approaches its centenary, the group has set out a bold vision for how it aims to improve the lives of consumers, support communities across the globe and do its bit to help the planet by becoming a net zero business by 2032.

Through its 100-1-0 strategy the company sets out three major targets:

1. To help 100 million consumers live positive, active, sustainable lifestyles.

2. To improve the lives of one million people in its communities.

3. To become a net zero business by 2032.

Pentland Brands has committed to having 100 per cent transparency across its supply chain, placing human rights and environmentalism at the core of the business.

Pentland also plans to accelerate its focus on bringing communities together and supporting causes that matter to their consumers. By 2032, these actions will help 100 million consumers live positive, active, sustainable lifestyles.

The motivation behind such ambitious targets is thanks to the focus of becoming a company that champions social mobility, diversity, and inclusivity. Pentland donates one per cent of profits to charity every year and, over the next ten years, its brands will donate half a million products to those most in need. By 2032, these actions will help improve the lives of an estimated one million people in its communities.

Through its science-based carbon emission reductions and off-setting initiatives, Pentland is aiming for its brands to be net zero by 2032, with its Endura cycling brand aiming to be CO2 negative by as early as 2024. This will be driven through initiatives such as planting 50 million trees to restore healthy forests, increasing biodiversity and reducing extreme poverty.

On 100-1-0 strategy, Sara Brennan, Positive Business Director for Pentland Brands said that:

“For nearly one hundred years we’ve been a pioneer of brands that make life better. But our world has changed, and we need to accelerate our actions. 

Sara Brennan, Positive Business Director

“We know there’s much more work to be done, but everyone within the Pentland Brands family is passionate about helping to create a world that’s better, fairer and greener.  Our teams are already working together on the initiatives that will help us to achieve our ambitious 2032 targets.”

A Global Vision With A Local Purpose

The company has a global vision but with a local purpose. Its teams are already working together on the initiatives that will help to achieve its ambitious 2032 targets. Pentland Brands has joined the Lendwithcare initiative created by CARE – one of the world’s leading aid and development organisations – to help entrepreneurs in emerging markets to establish or expand their businesses through a series of small loans.

So far, 81 entrepreneurs have been supported through a total of 31 loans, creating 24 new jobs and supporting owners to grow their businesses for the long term. Businesses supported include the Glorious Group – a second-hand clothes outlet in Zambia – as well as artisan clothes makers, shoemakers, tailors and embroiderers across Africa.

Meanwhile, last year Pentland confirmed it had appointed an executive team with a 50/50 gender balance and is focused on increasing the representation of women at the director level. They plan to achieve this through a combination of continued succession planning, talent pipeline development and external recruitment.

Pentland is working to create a world that is better, fairer and greener, and we’re proud to be working with them this Family Business Week.

All images courtesy of Pentland Brands