ALDO Group

The ALDO Group is a Canadian retailer that owns and operates a worldwide chain of shoe and accessories stores. The company was founded by Aldo Bensadoun in Montreal, Quebec,
 in 1972, where its corporate headquarters remain today. It has grown to
 become a worldwide corporation, with nearly 3,000 stores across 100 
countries, under three retail banners: ALDO, Call It Spring/Spring and 
GLOBO. Stores in Canada, the U.S., the U.K., and Ireland are owned by 
the Group, while international stores are franchised. The company once 
operated the now closed or rebranded banners. Little Burgundy (which it 
sold to Genesco), Simard & Voyer, Christian Shoes, Access, Pegabo, 
Transit, Stoneridge, Locale, Feetfirst and FIRST (which was the American
 version of Feetfirst).
== History ==
ALDO shoes were founded in Canada in 1972 as a footwear concession within Le Chateau. The original group included stores in Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, and Winnipeg.
 Aldo Bensadoun known today as a global shoe giant built his empire 
starting in Montreal. After four generations, the Bensadoun family 
continues into the shoe industry. "Mr. Bensadoun never intended to 
follow in the footsteps of his father, a shoe retailer in Morocco and 
France, or his grandfather, a cobbler in Algeria" (Strauss, 2010).
 Aldo Bensadoun learned Italian to better communicate with his suppliers
 in Italy, and eventually he cut out the middleman who serviced him 
between Canada and European manufacturers (Strauss, 2010).
 The first freestanding ALDO store was opened in Montreal, in 1987. The 
brand expanded in the 1980s and 1990s, with stores operating under the 
name ALDO across Canada. Entering in the US market was going to be a 
challenge; this was a market where many Canadian companies failed to 
prosper. "It opened one store in 1990 in the decidedly unfashionable 
border town of Plattsburgh, New York, a mere hour's drive from the ALDO Group headquarters in Saint-Laurent, Quebec.
 The store served as a lab where ALDO tested its logistics, marketing 
and hiring in preparation for a broader American assault" according to 
Kuncharsky (2002).
 The first store outside of North America opened in Israel in 1995. The 
brand expanded in the 2000s into Saudi Arabia in 2001, England in 2002, 
and Singapore in 2003. Since then, the ALDO Group, with the ALDO and 
Call It Spring/Spring banners, has further expanded on the international
 market.
In 1991, the company launched the "Transit" banner in Canada, 
which later became "Spring" upon launching in the US. Five years later, 
they started the "Feetfirst" banner which caters to an older clientele. 
Additionally the company operates "Globo Shoes" geared towards the 
family market.
 In 2010, the company once again began to evolve when it introduced, in 
Canada, a new store concept called "Lōcale", which will replace the 
current "Feetfirst" stores. "Lōcale" is a footwear and accessories 
boutique-style concept store aimed at young professionals; it offers a 
number of brand names.
 The company has also revived the Pegabo brand which used to be its own 
chain of stores and is selling the brand in Feetfirst and Lōcale stores.
 In spring 2011, the Pegabo brand also launched at Hudson's Bay stores in Canada.
In 2010, the company made major announcements, which led to major expansion in the American market. The ALDO Group and JCPenney
 announced the launch of the Call It Spring brand which would sell as a 
shop-in-shop concept in JCPenney stores across the United States. The Call It Spring
 concept was expected to be in 600 JCPenney stores by the fall of 2011 
and JCPenney would be the only department store retailer of the brand. The ALDO Group also announced that it was partnering with Kohl's
 department stores to design and produce exclusive footwear products 
which would be sold under private and exclusive brand names. The new 
ALDO-designed products were to launch in Kohl's stores for the Spring 2011 season.
In 2018, ALDO became the first fashion footwear and accessories 
company to be certified climate neutral for its corporate stores, 
offices and distribution centres. Between 2013–2018, the company 
achieved a 46% reduction of its greenhouse gases.
On May 7, 2020, ALDO announced it would restructure under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act citing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. All 6,680 store associates and more than half of the employees at its headquarters have been furloughed.
== Brands ==
* ALDO – Men's and women's footwear and accessories
* Banff Trail – Men's, women's and children's footwear
* BBX – Men's, Women's and children's footwear
* Call It Spring – Men's and women's footwear and accessories
* Feetfirst – Men's and women's footwear
* K Studio – Men's, Women's, Children's footwear and accessories
* KS2 - Men's and Women's footwear
* Luca Ferri – Men's, Women's and Children's footwear
* Max Comfort – Men's footwear
* Melia – Footwear and accessories
* Mr. B's - Men's footwear and accessories
* No Angel – Girls' footwear
* Pegabo – Men's and women's footwear
* Solemate – Women's footwear
* Transit – Men's and women's footwear
* Weekenders – Men's footwear
Category:Shoe stores
Category:Luxury brands
Category:Retailers
Category:Retailers that filed for bankruptcy
Category:Companies
Category:Franchises
Category:Brands