Schöffel sets course for growth with new corporate structure

The family-based company Schöffel is restructuring, setting all the signals for growth: with the creation of the two operating divisions Schöffel SPORT and Schöffel PROFESSIONAL, the operating business will rest on two pillars from 1 October 2021.

Peter Schöffel (60), who has been the seventh generation to lead the company since 1995, will take on the post of Group CEO in the new structure and in this role will focus on the strategic management and further development of the Group as a whole.

The management team of Schöffel Sportbekleidung GmbH, which previously consisted of Peter Schöffel and Felix Geiger, will be expanded to include Stefan Merkt.

"Several years ago, with a view to the long-term development of Schöffel, we began to launch a variety of growth initiatives," explains Peter Schöffel. "We sharpened our brand image, promoted product innovations and very successfully launched our bike collection in 2020, in the middle of the pandemic. We have always seen the Corona pandemic - despite all the challenges - as an opportunity as well: The relationship with our retail and production partners has become even more intensive and trusting during this time, and we have made a real leap in the digitalisation of our brand world."

For Peter Schöffel, the new corporate structure "creates the ideal conditions to strengthen our course of sustainable, healthy growth. I am convinced that Stefan Merkt and Felix Geiger and their teams will fulfil this ambition - based on the values that have characterised Schöffel as a family business for 217 years: High quality and reliable partnerships."

These are the two new divisions at Schöffel:

The newly created Schöffel SPORT division comprises the brand business with all activities in the outdoor, ski and bike sectors. The division's CEO will be Stefan Merkt, who has been in charge of sales at Schöffel since November 2019.

"The conditions for new growth in the outdoor, ski and bike segments have rarely been so good. The pandemic has impressively proven how strong people's urge is to find their personal 'I'm out' experience in nature," says Merkt. "The Schöffel brand is highly regarded and stands for the highest quality, innovation, sustainability and reliability. This environment offers us enormous potential in the coming years. I am delighted and proud to be able to shape the next stage in the company's history as Managing Director of Schöffel SPORT together with the team."

The Schöffel PROFESSIONAL division bundles all products for employee clothing for companies and public authorities, as well as the motorcycle clothing division. Felix Geiger (49), who has been Financial Managing Director of Schöffel Sportbekleidung GmbH since 2015 and will continue in this role, is responsible for the further expansion of the division.

"We have already been a close partner of well-known companies, authorities and organisations for years and want to make even more intensive use of Schöffel's great expertise in future. Confidence in the special quality and high value is a decisive factor for textile outfitting with Schöffel products, which already meet the same sustainability requirements as our sportswear," says Geiger. "Our heritage as the oldest outdoor clothing company in the world offers our customers a special level of trust and reliability. We want to use these skills to build Schöffel PROFESSIONAL into the strong second pillar of our group."