Birkenstock Holding plc traces its origins to 1774 when Johann Adam Birkenstock began crafting supportive footwear in Germany, responding to the era's flat-soled shoes with a focus on foot health. The defining innovation arrived in 1896 with the introduction of the cork-latex contoured footbed, a design milestone that positioned Birkenstock as a pioneer in orthopedically informed footwear. The company remained family-owned for centuries, expanding throughout Europe before entering the U.S. market in 1966, thanks in part to Margot Fraser, who brought Birkenstocks into American health stores and counterculture circles.
Birkenstock is best known for its signature sandals—like the Arizona, Boston, and Gizeh styles—which feature the anatomically contoured cork footbed that molds to each wearer’s foot over time. While still rooted in the sandal category, the brand has broadened its portfolio to include closed-toe shoes, clogs, boots, and accessories, extending its reach into active, professional, orthopedic, and youth segments. Products are sold through a hybrid model—globally via retail partners, e-commerce platforms, and an expanding network of company-owned Experience Stores.
In 2021, Birkenstock transitioned from family ownership to private equity, when L Catterton and Financière Agache acquired a majority stake for about €4 billion. The company marked another milestone by going public on the NYSE in October 2023 under the ticker “BIRK,” raising roughly $1.5 billion. Since then, leadership has emphasized scaling direct-to-consumer distribution through its own stores and online channels, especially in underpenetrated markets like Asia-Pacific, and premiumizing its product mix.
Birkenstock is actively investing in global retail expansion, newly opening stores in locations such as San Sebastián, Nashville, Shanghai, Paris, and Chelsea in 2025. A €110 million production facility in Pasewalk, Germany commenced operations in late 2023 to boost supply, adding around 1,000 jobs. Aspirations outlined at IPO and confirmed in corporate communications point to further growth in closed-toe styles, active/outdoor categories, body-care offerings, and sleep products like footcare and mattresses. With its bedrock of craftsmanship, evolving formats, and global reach, Birkenstock is positioning itself as more than a sandal maker—one of the most enduring and adaptable footwear brands worldwide.