Adidas Apparel and Footwear

Adidas is a global leader in the sporting goods industry, with a history rooted in the small town of Herzogenaurach, Germany. Founded by Adolf 'Adi' Dassler in 1949, the brand emerged following a split from his brother Rudolf, who went on to found Puma. Over the decades, Adidas has evolved from a local shoe factory into a multinational corporation known for its iconic three-stripe trademark and innovation in performance athletic gear.

Today, the manufacturing of Adidas products is highly decentralized to optimize production costs and meet global demand. While the brand maintains a 'Speedfactory' and high-tech development facilities in Germany, the vast majority of its production occurs in Asia. Key manufacturing hubs include Vietnam, Indonesia, and China, which together produce a significant portion of the brand's footwear and apparel. The company also operates factories across the Americas and Europe for specialized or localized product lines.

Ownership of Adidas has shifted from a family-run business to a widely held public corporation. Since its initial public offering in 1995, Adidas AG has been listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. It is currently owned by a diverse group of institutional and retail investors, with no single individual or company holding a controlling interest. Major institutional stakeholders include groups like Groupe Bruxelles Lambert, BlackRock, and Norges Bank, ensuring the brand remains a truly global entity governed by public market standards.