Mayo workwear and footwear brand Portwest makes acquisition in Colombia

Portwest headquarters in Westport. The company now employs 6,400 people worldwide.

Mayo-headquartered workwear and footwear Portwest has acquired Colombian safety-footwear brand Grupo Kondor, a further step in the Irish brand's global expansion.

Grupo Kondor is the leading safety-footwear brand in Colombia. The deal strengthens Portwest’s position in Latin America and supports its strategy to expand its manufacturing, distribution, and products across international markets.  Founded over 40 years ago, Grupo Kondor is a renowned name in Colombia’s industrial safety sector, designing and producing high-performance protective footwear. The company employs more than 300 people in the country.

Portwest deputy managing director Cathal Hughes said the investment represents a key milestone in the company’s growth strategy. “We are delighted to welcome the Kondor team into the Portwest Group,” said Mr Hughes. “Acquiring market-leading companies like Kondor is a central part of our plan to strengthen our presence globally. 

"This move expands our capabilities in safety footwear and gives us a strong local base in Colombia. It also opens the door for introducing our Portwest and Base Protection brands more efficiently to the region.” 

The acquisition follows Portwest’s previous investments in IFR Workwear (Canada), Base Protection (Italy), and leading Australian workwear companies, cementing its position as one of the world’s top providers of workwear, safety footwear and PPE.

Originally founded over 120 years ago, Portwest now employs over 6,400 people worldwide. The company owns four factories - two in Bangladesh, one in Myanmar, and the most recent one, in Ethiopia. Portwest is owned by the third generation of the Hughes Family.