Company Description
Birkenstock Holding plc (NYSE: BIRK) is the ultimate parent company of Birkenstock Group B.V. & Co. KG and its subsidiaries. According to company disclosures, BIRKENSTOCK is a global brand that embraces consumers regardless of geography, gender, age or income and is committed to a clear purpose: encouraging proper foot health. The brand is deeply rooted in studies of the biomechanics of the human foot and in a family shoemaking tradition that can be traced back to 1774. Birkenstock describes itself as a timeless "super brand" whose universe spans multiple product categories and price points, from entry-level to luxury, aimed at people seeking a conscious and active lifestyle.
Birkenstock operates in the footwear manufacturing industry within the broader manufacturing sector. Its core identity is built around function, quality and tradition. The company states that these values define it as a "Zeitgeist" lifestyle brand with products in three main areas: footwear, sleep systems and natural cosmetics. A defining feature of the brand is that BIRKENSTOCK is the inventor of the footbed and has helped shape the principle of walking as intended by nature, referred to as "Naturgewolltes Gehen".
Business focus and brand positioning
BIRKENSTOCK emphasizes a purpose-driven approach centered on foot health and natural movement. The company highlights that its products are grounded in biomechanical research and a long-standing shoemaking heritage. This combination of orthopedic function and everyday use underpins its positioning as a lifestyle brand that spans multiple categories rather than a single-product label.
Across its communications, BIRKENSTOCK describes itself as a global brand with a universe that transcends product categories and price tiers. It addresses consumers looking for comfort, health and a conscious lifestyle, and it explicitly notes that its brand universe ranges from entry-level to luxury price points. This breadth is reflected in its presence in footwear, sleep systems and natural cosmetics.
Product categories and segments
The company highlights three principal product-related areas:
- Footwear: BIRKENSTOCK is best known for its footbed-based footwear. In its own descriptions, the company stresses that it invented the footbed and that its footwear is designed around the biomechanics of the human foot and the idea of walking as nature intended.
- Sleep systems: The brand extends its focus on function, quality and tradition into sleep systems, which it includes as a core product category.
- Natural cosmetics: BIRKENSTOCK also operates in natural cosmetics, again framed around function, quality and tradition, and aligned with a conscious lifestyle.
In addition, the company has developed the BIRKENSTOCK CARE ESSENTIALS range in its cosmetics segment. It describes this as a line rooted in natural care made in Germany, initially focused on foot care and then expanded into a full body care range. The CARE ESSENTIALS body care products are presented as vegan-certified, COSMOS-Natural-certified and made in Germany with 100% natural-origin ingredients, designed to support everyday wellness routines.
Manufacturing approach and geographic footprint
BIRKENSTOCK states that it operates a vertically integrated manufacturing base and that it produces all of its footbeds in Germany. It further notes that it assembles over 95% of its products in Germany and sources over 90% of its materials and components from Europe. The company emphasizes that it processes inputs to high environmental and social standards and operates state-of-the-art scientific laboratories for materials testing.
The company indicates that it has around 6,200 employees worldwide and that it is headquartered in Linz am Rhein, Germany for the Birkenstock Group, while Birkenstock Holding plc’s principal executive office, as disclosed in SEC filings, is located in London, United Kingdom. Birkenstock Group operates its own sales offices in multiple countries, including the United States, Canada, Brazil, Japan, Denmark, Poland, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, the United Kingdom, France, Norway, the Netherlands, Dubai, Singapore and India.
Market reach and channels
Company communications describe BIRKENSTOCK as serving consumers globally and across income levels, with a brand that spans entry-level to luxury price points. The brand is present across segments, channels and categories, and its financial updates reference both B2B (business-to-business) and DTC (direct-to-consumer) channels, as well as geographic segments such as Americas, EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and APAC (Asia Pacific). These references indicate that the company distributes its products through wholesale partners, its own retail stores and direct channels.
In its own descriptions, BIRKENSTOCK highlights that its products appeal to a broad audience and that demand spans different regions. It also notes that it has been expanding its own retail footprint and that it works with mono-brand partner stores in certain markets. The company’s acquisition of its long-standing distributor Birkenstock Australia Pty. Ltd. is presented as an example of investing in key markets and integrating distribution where it sees significant growth potential.
Heritage and brand philosophy
A recurring theme in Birkenstock’s official materials is the combination of heritage and purpose. The company traces its shoemaking tradition back to 1774 and links this history to its present-day focus on foot health and natural movement. It emphasizes that every product is expected to serve a clear purpose and to resonate with consumers seeking comfort, health and a conscious lifestyle.
The brand’s philosophy is also reflected in its approach to natural cosmetics and body care. The CARE ESSENTIALS range is described as being rooted in simple, clean and effective formulas with carefully controlled and tested ingredients, made in Germany and aligned with the company’s broader commitments to quality, safety and sustainability.
Stock information and regulatory status
Birkenstock Holding plc’s ordinary shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BIRK. As a foreign private issuer, the company files reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including Form 20-F annual reports and Form 6-K current reports. Recent Form 6-K filings reference press releases on quarterly and annual financial results, preliminary revenue updates, acquisitions and manufacturing capacity investments. These filings indicate that the company remains an active, listed issuer.
Risk considerations highlighted by the company
In its cautionary statements, BIRKENSTOCK identifies a range of risks that could affect its performance. These include dependence on the strength and reputation of the BIRKENSTOCK brand, competition from established and newer market entrants, execution of its direct-to-consumer growth strategy and e-commerce platforms, adaptation to changes in consumer preferences, and risks related to merchandise returns and counterfeit products.
The company also notes risks associated with operating and expanding retail stores, economic conditions affecting consumer spending, the sustainability of its supply chain, increases in raw material or labor costs, operational challenges at production facilities, shipping and delivery disruptions, currency exchange rate fluctuations, and various legal, regulatory, tax, ESG and insurance-related risks. These disclosures provide context for how management views the operating environment.
Use of non-IFRS measures
Birkenstock’s financial communications reference the use of non-IFRS financial measures such as Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, constant currency revenue growth, Adjusted EPS, Adjusted net profit, net leverage and net debt. The company explains that management uses these measures to assess performance and underlying trends and that reconciliations to the most directly comparable IFRS measures are provided in its financial disclosures. It also notes that these non-IFRS measures have limitations and should not be viewed as substitutes for IFRS metrics.
Summary
Overall, Birkenstock Holding plc represents the corporate structure behind a long-established footwear and lifestyle brand. The company’s own descriptions emphasize its origins in shoemaking, its invention of the footbed, its focus on foot health and natural movement, and its expansion into sleep systems and natural cosmetics. With manufacturing centered in Germany, materials sourced largely from Europe and sales offices across multiple continents, BIRKENSTOCK positions itself as a global lifestyle brand anchored in function, quality and tradition.