At Birkenstock, tradition and heritage are important hallmarks of a brand that dates back not years or even decades, but centuries. Birkenstock is deeply rooted in the fine art of crafting premium quality shoes that are good for you. Since 1774, Birkenstock has passed this commitment down from one generation to the next. The result is the absolute best in quality, comfort and support.
The original BIRKENSTOCK footbed is the heart of all our models. While today it is synonymous with exceptional comfort, the word “footbed” was first used by BIRKENSTOCK in the 1930s to describe anatomically shaped inner soles with special support elements.
BIRKENSTOCK is not only one of the top five global footwear brands, it is also one of the most well known German brands in the world. With around 3,000 employees, this tradition-rich, sixth-generation family-owned business is also the German footwear industry’s largest employer. About one in four employees in the industry works at BIRKENSTOCK. More than 1,100 new jobs have been created since the beginning of 2013, almost all of them in Germany. This is because BIRKENSTOCK produces most of its products at its own production facilities in Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse and Saxony.
2013 also heralds one of the most significant turning points in the company’s history: BIRKENSTOCK becomes a corporation. The group is led by an executive team, which for the first time is not composed of family members – an unprecedented event in the company’s almost 240-year history. Oliver Reichert and Markus Bensberg are in charge of the activities of the BIRKENSTOCK Group.
