Chris F&C Secures Exclusive Business Rights for Prestigious European Outdoor Brand 'Mammut'

161-Year-Old Switzerland's Top Company
Contract Until 2029... Direct Import and In-House Production of Shoes
"Transforming into a Total Sportswear Company Through Business Expansion"

Golfwear company Chris F&C is accelerating its transformation into a total sportswear company by consecutively acquiring and partnering with famous European outdoor brands. Leveraging its successful experience in the golfwear market, the company is speeding up its entry into the outdoor market despite the economic downturn. The strategy is to grow into a total sportswear company with sales in the 1 trillion KRW range within a few years.

Mammut [Photo by Chris F&C]

On the 18th, Chris F&C announced that it secured exclusive domestic business rights by partnering with Mammut, one of Europe’s top three sports brands and the number one outdoor company in Switzerland. This comes 1 year and 5 months after acquiring the Italian premium brand Hydrogen in May last year to enter the outdoor market, further strengthening ties with a European outdoor brand with a 161-year history.

The exclusive business contract period lasts until December 2029. During this period, Chris F&C plans to directly import Mammut products such as footwear, which have expanded to over 40 countries worldwide, and also introduce its own products designed exclusively for domestic consumers.

From the 24th, Chris F&C will hold an outdoor convention for four days at its second office in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, unveiling Hydrogen’s new products targeting the spring/summer (SS) market next year for the first time. The convention will showcase outdoor products including outerwear, functional pants, hats, and backpacks, planned by the Italian local design studio and the domestic design center since the acquisition of Hydrogen.

Starting next year, Hydrogen and Mammut stores will open consecutively in major department stores nationwide and key cities. To maximize synergy between the two brands, standalone stores will be opened side by side, and European-style complex stores handling products from both brands will also be introduced.

Founded in 1998, Chris F&C launched five golf apparel brands starting with Ping in 1999, followed by Phantom, Parigates, Master Bunny Edition, and St. Andrews. Prior to entering the outdoor market, the company secured a stable production base by acquiring Kukdong, a 56-year-old original equipment manufacturer (OEM), in August last year. In May last year, to secure space for flagship stores and more, it purchased and remodeled the Fashion Group Hyungji headquarters building in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, separately from its main office, for 130 billion KRW.

Last year, the five golf apparel brands recorded sales of 400 billion KRW, and Kukdong achieved sales of 330 billion KRW through overseas direct exports including its factory in Mexico, maintaining profitable growth every year.

Kim Han-heum, CEO of Chris F&C, expressed confidence, saying, "The key to success in both outdoor and golf apparel lies in quality, design, and customer satisfaction service. We opened the golfwear market with Ping Apparel in 1998 when the market only had clubs, and pioneered the high-end market with Parigates and St. Andrews, which is our unique success know-how."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.