Gola drives record 2024 for Jacobson Group, new EU e-tail platform to drive even better 2025

Jacobson Group has not only enjoyed a record year of growth and strategic progress, but that success has also tipped over into the new trading year, and is expecting to post to another record performance for 2025.

The UK footwear and accessories specialist has reported a record financial performance for the year to 28 December 2024, noting its star performer was sports brand Gola.
 
Turnover for the 12 months leapt 38% to £36.4 million, “driven by our rapidly growing e-commerce presence and the solid growth delivered through our distribution and retail partner channels across the UK, Europe and the USA”.

Reported core earnings (EBITDA) rocketed 153% to £4.8 million from £1.9 million, with adjusted EBITDA (excluding one off exceptional items) improving to £5.6 million.

As for pre-tax profit, a fourfold+ jump (457%) saw it come in at £3.9 million from £0.7 million in the previous year.

Jacobson said strategic highlights included heritage brand Gola, remaining “well-loved with new and existing customers buying into the brand for its authentic heritage and fresh creative style”.

In 2024, the brand introduced a number of archive re-releases with styles including the Elan and Tornado “performing exceptionally well”.

It noted growth for the Gola brand, which is celebrating its 120th anniversary, has been particularly strong in the US, across both retail and direct-to-consumer channels, “alongside the sustained momentum delivered in the UK and key European territories”.

The group said it also won several new customers in 2024, “adding to our diverse range of respected retail names” including John Lewis, Next, Schuh, Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Oliver Bonas, M&S, Selfridges, Nordstrom and Bloomingdales.

The company also owns Lotus, Ravel, Frank Wright and Dolcis as well as running Dunlop and Lonsdale on a licensed basis.

As for Jacobson’s current trading and outlook, it said there was “continued positive trading momentum in all key markets in 2025 as well as entry into several exciting new markets including Central America”.

The group therefore “remains on track to deliver another record year with 40%+ revenue growth and continued growth of EBITDA and PBT in 2025.

It’s also well positioned “to optimise further growth opportunities through market penetration of existing and new territories”.

It added that e-commerce scalability “remains a business priority”, and that its board “is confident growth will be accelerated by combining our technical and marketing investment”, including the upcoming launch of its European website “to capitalise on the strong momentum in the EU”.

Jacobson Group managing director Tony Evans said: “We are confident that our diverse business model leaves us well placed to build on this positive growth trajectory. Further to this, we continue to hold a solid forward order book and have appointed partners in several new territories, meaning the group remains on track to deliver another record performance in 2025.”