Aldo Group makes deal to design shoe line for Joe Fresh

Retailer Joe Fresh has signed a global licence agreement that will see Aldo Group design, produce and distribute its line of shoes.

The hookup between two Canadian fashion retailers is meant to accelerate growth of the footwear business in Joe Fresh stores and locations.

Montreal-based Aldo Group will deliver lines of women’s, men’s and children’s footwear in time for the Spring 2016 season. The designs will include casual and fashion styles, as well as boots.

Aldo, which has 1,800 stores in 93 countries, will be the exclusive supplier of Joe Fresh footwear. It is the first relationship between the two companies, though both are mainstays of the Canadian fashion world.

Joe Fresh shops in top locations are to undergo a redesign and renovation later this year to include footwear shopping zones.

“We see powerful growth opportunities in footwear for both new and existing channels of Joe Fresh distribution,” Mario Grauso, president of Joe Fresh, said in a news release.

Grauso said fashion retail is always a competitive environment but "that’s what makes it such a creative and interesting business."

Montreal's Jacob fashion chain folded last year and Mexx Canada closed all its outlets, while Target Canada is in the process of closing. But Grauso says Joe Fresh is doing well.

"Our women’s business is trending well in Canada and did not have a specific impact on our decision to partner with Aldo Group for footwear. The agreement with Aldo Group was determined on its own merits as the ideal strategy to take advantage of the many opportunities in the category," he said in an email to CBC News.

Owned by Loblaw Cos. Ltd., Joe Fresh lost its signature designer Joe Mimran last week and a new design team is set to take over at the Canadian label.