It is nearly impossible that a runner and a hiker have not heard about the Saucony brand in their entire life because the brand is standing strong in the market for over 124 years – way before our grandparents were born. And why not? Saucony offers shoes in 5 distinct categories – Competition, Road, Trail, Train, and Walking. Apart from shoes, the brand sells performance running and lifestyle apparel. But today we will only focus on where Saucony shoes and other footwear are made.
So let’s see where your best and worst pair of Saucony is coming from.
Saucony Shoes Manufacturing: Countries Revealed!
According to the data published in Saucony (WWW) Global Impact Report, 2021. All Saucony shoes/footwear are made in the United States Of America, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Argentina, Turkey, Pakistan, India, Thailand, Indonesia, China, Vietnam, Burma, and the Philippines.
However, Vietnam accounts for 31-40% and China holds 21-20% off Saucony footwear production. All other countries mentioned takes 1-20% of manufacturing inclusively (Cambodia, Indonesia, and Bangladesh take the most). It may also surprise you that Saucony’s owner only has 33 core manufacturing partners who manufacture the majority of the company’s shoes.
As a U.S. citizen, you may find it startling to see that there are more Saucony shoes made in China and Vietnam than in the USA. Even, after looking at tons of shoes of this brand, I did not find any Made In USA shoes but many Vietnamese and Chinese-made Saucony shoes as you can see in the above images.
But that does not mean there are no American-made Saucony shoes. You’ll find some; because the company’s supply chain data suggest that they do have at least 1% of manufacturing in the USA. The reason why Asian countries take the most share in shoe manufacturing is because of the production cost, the market needs, and corporate and geographical benefits.
I am seeing a great percentage of rise in the Vietnam shoe industry because while writing articles on Hoka, Brooks, ASICS, ON, and Hey Dude, I found that Vietnam is one of the major footwear producers for these brands. Not Joking! Just read those articles and I have all the proof for them.
Like APAC and EMEA will see more Asian-made Saucony shoes than USA or Mexican-made because the economy is not as strong as the USA in many of the countries of these regions. Cheap labor and less transporting costs (to transport in nearby countries), etc make it an economical choice.
That does not mean every piece of the manufacturing puzzle happens only in these countries because the final draft of the Conflict Minerals Policy published in April 2014 says “Wolverine (Saucony Owner) and its third-party suppliers purchase raw materials and parts from a variety of sources”. This means that the raw materials and other components required for manufacturing Saucony shoes may be coming from other countries that are not listed or through the inter-country supply chain. To say, the insole/outsole is manufactured in Country A and then assembly of it may happen in ‘B’ Country.
How Saucony Chooses Suppliers For Its Shoes?
As we all know that Saucony is a part of the Wolverine Worldwide brands, so it needs to follow the Code of Conduct provided by the company itself. If we put the words of WWW, then they say that For any brand, including Saucony, Wolverine considers many factors in finalizing a factory to work with production which includes reputation, manufacturing capabilities, location, human rights, geopolitical, and infrastructures, and it must comply with their code of conduct.
As their policy, they hold zero tolerance for forced labor, human trafficking, slavery, or involuntary work of any kind. The Conflict Mineral Policy, which Wolverine itself follows, asks its suppliers to not involve in the purchase or use of conflict minerals. The company follows the processes indicated by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas (the “OECD Guidance”).
Who Owns Saucony? (Short History)
Currently, Saucony is owned by Wolverine Worldwide since 2012 and falls under the Wolverine Boston Segment. A noteworthy thing is before WWW, the brand was owned by Collective Brands (2007-2012) and Stride Rite (2005-2007). This does not mean that Saucony exists only since 2005. History tells us Saucony is in the footwear market for over 124 years, creating shoes for both casual and avid outdoors and athletes. 4 business people in 1898 started the brand in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. However, the headquarter is now located in Lexington, Massachusetts. So yes, it is certain that the brand originated from the U.S. and still can be called a U.S. brand.
The greatest hits of Saucony lists Jazz (1981), Shadow (1985), Azura (1988), Grid (2000), Kilkenny XC Spike (2003), Kinvara (2009), Peregrine (2011), Guide (2011), Fastwitch (2015), Triumph Iso 2 (2015), and Endorphin Pro (2020).
Countries Where Saucony Do Business
As of December 2022, you can go to Saucony.com and get your product shipped to over 32 countries (33 to be exact). Apart from an e-commerce site, Saucony shoes are sold by many authorized sports retailers and company-owned Saucony retail stores across the united states and several other countries. Here’s the complete list of countries where Saucony shoes are sold.
Michael is heavily inclined towards traveling to natural places and documenting cultures/people from different parts of the world. He also loves hiking and camping and is spirited toward all outdoor activities. He will share his passion for outdoor life and brands or products we use outside our homes. He has good research skills, and that’s why you can see why his articles are packed with info that is factual and not readily available. He also has the vision to travel the whole world and share it with all readers of Outdoor Favor.
