Latest news with #HFL
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Skechers dismisses Kizik's patent allegations as ‘baseless'
Global footwear and apparel company Skechers USA is facing a lawsuit for allegedly infringing on footwear brand Kizik Design's patents. The legal action was initiated on 24 July in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas by HandsFree Labs (HFL), the intellectual property and innovation engine behind Kizik. The lawsuit focuses on Skechers' Hands Free Slip-ins collection, which the company has marketed as a key innovation in the market. According to the filing, Skechers has been accused of infringing upon four utility patents owned by HFL that cover hands-free shoe entry technology, as well as two HFL design patents concerning aesthetic features. In response, Skechers has announced its intent to defend against the patent suit and called the lawsuit 'baseless'. Skechers highlights its own innovation in the space with more than 140 utility and design patents globally, including in the US. Skechers president Michael Greenberg said: 'The timing of this lawsuit is curious, coming on the heels of Skechers announcing a $9.42bn merger with 3G Capital. Kizik asserts that, 'at the heart of Skechers' hands-free shoes' are Kizik's patented technologies, yet Skechers has been advertising and selling its Slip-ins since December 2021 without so much as a letter from Kizik. 'Then, after the merger is announced, Kizik hires a law firm also used by Nike and attacks our whole Slip-ins product line. We believe that, after all these years of silence, the true motivation for this lawsuit might be found right on the face of Kizik's complaint, where they state that they are looking for a share of the $9.42bn being paid for Skechers, money Kizik did not earn and does not deserve.' Skechers said it has a record of defending its intellectual property rights, as evidenced by multiple judgements, injunctions, and settlements worldwide. Last month, a shareholder of Skechers USA launched legal proceedings seeking additional transparency regarding the company's forthcoming acquisition by private equity company 3G Capital. The brand's offerings are globally accessible, with availability in 180 countries and territories in over 5,300 Skechers retail stores. Greenberg added: 'Hands-free footwear has been around for at least a century. It was not created in the 21st century in Utah. We have become the market leader in the hands-free footwear space by innovating - not imitating - this idea into a true hands-free fit with our own technology. "Skechers invests tremendous resources into research and development to introduce its own fresh, unique and exciting footwear to customers year in and year out and will continue to do so, undeterred by transparent litigation efforts to thwart competition. We will aggressively challenge both the validity of the patents and the infringement claims.' "Skechers dismisses Kizik's patent allegations as 'baseless'" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Fashion United
16 hours ago
- Business
- Fashion United
Skechers responds to Kizik's ‘baseless' lawsuit
Footwear giant Skechers USA has said it plans to 'vigorously defend the patent suit' launched against it by HandsFree Lab (HFL), the parent company of Kizik. In a press release, Skechers said HFL's allegations, pertaining to its line of Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins, were 'baseless' and rooted in the 'assertion that Kizik created the hands-free footwear category and is the only company that can legally use that century-old idea'. In the lawsuit, filed with a Texas court, Kizik alleges that Skechers 'knowingly' infringed on four HFL utility patents and two design patents for its slip-in footwear, a line that, according to HFL, was launched without licensing or acknowledging the Kizik brand. The suit goes on to state that a number of related patents pursued by Skechers have been rejected, a claim Skechers calls 'false', with the company underlining that it has 'obtained more than 140 utility and design patents worldwide, including in the US'. In a statement, Skechers' president, Michael Greenberg, expressed suspicion over the timing of the lawsuit, which he notes comes shortly after Skechers announced a 9.42 billion dollars merger with 3G Capital. Despite not receiving 'so much as a letter from Kizik' since launching its Slip-ins line in 2021, Greenberg states that upon the merger's announcement, 'Kizik hires a law firm also used by Nike and attacks our whole Slip-ins product line'. Greenberg continues: 'We believe that, after all these years of silence, the true motivation for this lawsuit might be found right on the face of Kizik's complaint, where they state that they are looking for a share of the 9.42 dollars billion being paid for Skechers, money Kizik did not earn and does not deserve.' According to Greenberg, Skechers has become a 'market leader in the hands-free footwear space' through innovating with technology and investing into research and development. As such, Skechers 'will aggressively challenge both the validity of the patents and the infringement claims', he adds.
Fashion United
2 days ago
- Business
- Fashion United
Kizik parent company accuses Skechers of patent infringement in new lawsuit
Skechers has found itself on the receiving end of a lawsuit over its sale of hands-free footwear by the company that claims to have created the category. HandsFree Labs (HFL), the intellectual property owner behind Kizik, has accused Skechers USA of patent infringement for mechanical constructions that allow for hands-free shoe entry. The complaint, filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, alleges that Skechers 'knowingly and willfully' infringed on four HFL utility patents as well as two design patents protecting 'ornamental innovations'. The suit particularly references the Skechers Hands Free Slip-Ins line, which are said to feature infringing heel and elastic upper elements. After Skechers first launched its hands-free styles in 2023, the category has become an 'integral' part of its business, with the brand's slip-ins line now accounting for around 35 percent of the products listed on its website, the lawsuit notes. This, however, rides on the coattails of Kizik, according to HFL, with Skechers launching such products without licensing and acknowledging the brand, instead promoting the designs as proprietary. Skechers Hands Free line becomes integral part of the business HFL references other cases in which Skechers has previously been accused of infringing global brands, including Nike, to reaffirm its case, adding that it is yet 'another innovator whose hard work has been misappropriated by Skechers without recognition or compensation'. In contrast, HFL has backed licensed collaborations on hands-free footwear designs with brands like Nike, which had made a strategic investment into the firm in 2019. Through the lawsuit, HFL hopes to 'stop Skechers' rampant infringement' and obtain a 'proper share' of the brand's 'billions in annual revenue'. The company is calling for a trial by jury and has requested an injunction to avoid further infringement and compensation for damages. In a press release addressing the lawsuit, Gareth Hosford, CEO of HFL, said: 'This isn't just a product Skechers copied, it's a category we created. From the start, our mission was clear - to revolutionise how people put on their shoes. We believed this everyday task could be easier, faster, and more convenient. We poured our energy into developing the technology to solve a real-world problem and make hands-free shoes a reality. We're now forced to defend that work against a company that chose to imitate rather than innovate.' Since its founding in 2017, HFL has set out to establish Kizikas the leading hands-free footwear brand, boasting over 200 patents and applications globally to reinforce its presence in the specialty footwear market. In recent years, the company has been pursuing a new level of growth through store experiences, an omnichannel brand platform and new global distribution partners, underlining its intention to globally expand the business. FashionUnited has contacted Skechers with a request to comment.
Business Standard
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Hindustan Foods edges higher after Q4 PAT rises 34% YoY; crosses Rs 100-cr PAT mark in FY25
Hindustan Foods added 1.92% to Rs 542 after the company reported 34% rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 30.7 crore on a 27% increase in total revenue to Rs 936.3 crore in Q4 FY25 over Q4 FY24. Total operating expenses for the period under review added up to Rs 856 crore, up 28% YoY. EBITDA improved by 25% to Rs 80.3 crore in the fourth quarter from Rs 64 crore recorded in the same period last year. Profit before tax in Q4 FY25 stood at Rs 40.6 crore, up by 47% from Rs 27.7 crore in Q4 FY24. For FY25, Hindustan Foods has registered a consolidated net profit of Rs 109.6 crore (up 18% YoY) and total revenue of Rs 3,578.9 crore (up 30% YoY). The company stated that the strong performance in seasonal categories such as ice cream and beverages drove turnover to a record high. The shoe business recorded operational profit in Q4 FY25. The company launched commercial operations at its expanded facilities in Mysuru (Beverages) and Lucknow (Ice Cream), strategically timed to meet peak seasonal demand. It commenced commercial production at the new greenfield ice cream plant in Nashik in May 2025, enhancing capacity to serve a key new customer. The board of Hindustan Foods has granted its approval to acquire a significant minority stake in The Kabadiwala, a leading player in plastic scrap collection and recycling. Ganesh Argekar, executive director, said: From an operational standpoint, we delivered our highest-ever volumes across our beverages, ice creams, and footwear segments. This was achieved despite ongoing deflationary pressures and persistent volume softness in other categories. Our supply chain teams worked tirelessly to ensure efficiency and output even under challenging conditions. Specifically, the shoe business had a good quarter, and we are cautiously optimistic that we should be out of the woods now. While the division had the highest ever turnover in this FY, importantly, the new investments have started yielding results and we are confident that with the support of our customers, we should be able to turn around the business completely in FY26. Our bet on the beverage segment is finally paying off with Mysuru recording its highest ever output. We are eager to expand in this segment and continue to look for new opportunities. We have some interesting developments in the OTC Pharma division and are eager to scale this up. Our Home and Personal Care categories continue to perform resiliently in the face of the headwinds of slowing consumption." Hindustan Foods (HFL) offers dedicated and shared manufacturing services to FMCG corporates who are looking to minimize costs while maximizing product quality in the post-GST environment. In 2013, Vanity Case India bought a controlling stake in HFL and since then, the company has diversified across various FMCG categories with manufacturing competencies in food & beverages, home care, fabric care, beauty & personal care, wellness & OTC pharma, leather & sports footwear, and household insecticides, amongst others.
Business Upturn
02-05-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Hindustan Foods begins operations at new ice cream manufacturing facility in Nashik
By Aman Shukla Published on May 2, 2025, 15:50 IST Hindustan Foods Limited (HFL) has commenced Phase 1 operations at its new ice cream manufacturing facility in Nashik. The facility is part of HFL's expansion strategy in the ice cream segment, aiming to scale production and streamline operations across various product lines. The new plant enhances HFL's capabilities as a contract manufacturer in the ice cream industry. The company is working with a wide range of clients, including established legacy brands and newer entrants, to produce diverse ice cream offerings. Manoj Patani, President of the Ice Cream Division at HFL, stated, 'We are preparing for the upcoming season with a focus on operational readiness in our ice cream business.' He highlighted that the Indian ice cream market is valued at approximately ₹30,000 crore and is growing at over 15% annually. Key drivers of this growth include urbanization, increasing disposable incomes, changing consumer preferences, and the rise of quick commerce platforms. As part of its long-term plans, HFL is also pursuing backward integration initiatives and expanding its product range to strengthen its manufacturing portfolio and customer relationships. Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at
