RCG Corporation, owner of The Athlete’s Foot Australia, has acquired the local arm of footwear wholesaler and manufacturer, Saucony, and sporting goods chain, Podium Sports.

The move come sas RFG aims to become the leading player in premium branded footwear in Australia. Earlier this year, the company, acquired the distribution rights for shoe brand, Sperry Top-Sider.

“Saucony is a highly credible, award winning, international athletic brand with huge growth potential,” Hilton Brett, CEO of RCG said of the company’s acquisition.

“Its profile, both in terms of market position and growth opportunity, is a perfect fit for RCG, Together with the recently announced Sperry Top‐Sider licence, the acquisition of Saucony will fuel additional growth in RCG and move us closer to our goal of becoming the leading player in premium branded footwear in Australia.”

In addition to Saucony, RCG has also acquired Podium Sports from Authentics Australia, a nine store chain that operates athletic footwear and apparel clearance stores in outlet malls and DFO’s, with both acquisitions effective from December 2.

“It is necessary for any distribution business to have an efficient and well managed clearance strategy in order to protect the business and margins of its premium retail customers,” Brett said.

“Podium is an excellent example of this strategy in action and will help to further ensure that RCG’s customers continue to be supported by a well‐managed brand strategy.”

The Saucony brand, founded in Pennsylvania in 1898, has recently become the second largest brand by volume sold through the running speciality channel in the USA. The Athlete’s Foot was established under licence in Australia in 1981. Since then it has grown to become Australia’s largest retailer of athletic footwear and now operates over 148 stores across Australia and New Zealand, with stores in every state and territory.