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Wellie-maker beloved by celebrities and boasting two royal warrants sounds out potential buyers

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Hunter Boot, the Wellie-maker flaunted by celebrities such as Kate Moss, is hunting for a buyer.

The heritage footwear brand, which holds two royal warrants, has recruited advisers from AlixPartners to sound out potential buyers amid a post-Covid boom.

Founded in 1856 as the North British Rubber Company, the Hunter waterproof boots have been worn by Royals such as the Princess of Wales and the late Princess Diana.

The boots - which sell for £125 - have also been worn by pop stars such as Rita Ora, Alexa Chung and Cara Delevinge.

Demand for the brand’s boots have surged due to the return of music festivals this summer after the easing of pandemic restrictions.

The heritage footwear brand, which holds two royal warrants, has recruited advisers from AlixPartners to sound out potential buyers (file image)

The heritage footwear brand, which holds two royal warrants, has recruited advisers from AlixPartners to sound out potential buyers (file image)

Hunter boots have become a British staple over the years, championed by celebrities such as Alexa Chung 

Hunter boots have become a British staple over the years, championed by celebrities such as Alexa Chung 

The boots have become must-haves for festival goers after Kate Moss wore them to Glastonbury in 2005.

Hunter is also expected to reap the rewards of Covid-19 restrictions in China being scrapped, with demand for high-end apparel from shoppers in this market set to rebound.

Sales tanked amid the pandemic when shoppers were home-bound, causing the upmarket retailer to require a £18.5m lifeline from its investors.

Since 2020, the business has been controlled by Goldman Sachs backed investment vehicle Pall Mall Legacy.

Countless celebrities have been spotted in the boots over the years, including Kate Moss at Glastonbury Festival 

Countless celebrities have been spotted in the boots over the years, including Kate Moss at Glastonbury Festival 

The Edinburgh-based business is also nearing the completion of a £7m cash injection, in addition to separate discussions about an outright sale.

Alongside majority shareholder Pall Mall Legacy, other investors include Searchlight Capital Partners, a New York-headquartered private equity firm and Pentland Group, the owner of sportswear brands like Speedo and Berghaus.

Its original iteration, the North British Rubber Company, supplied rubber boots to the army in the First and Second World Wars, after it was the first firm to manufacture the product in the UK.

Its most recent set of accounts revealed that the company posted a loss of £5.1m on sales of £108m in the year to January 2022.

It has physical stores in Bicester Village and Woodbury in New York but shut shop at a former flagship on London’s Regent St.

Although the brand made its mark by selling its range of iconic Wellington boots, it has more recently launched a wider range of accessories and clothing, such as bags and puffer jackets.

What is the history behind Hunter wellies?

1800s: An American influence 

Hunter started life as the North British Rubber Company, founded by American entrepreneurs Spencer Thomas Parmelee and Henry Lee Norris in Edinburgh in 1856. 

By the mid-1870s the industrious businessmen employed more than 600 workers at their site in Fountainbridge. 

Now known for their Wellington boots, the company initially manufactured a broad range of goods including hot water bottles, rubber sheeting and golf balls. 

Early 1900s: Wartime suppliers

At the start of the First World War, production increased dramatically as the company was asked to supply sturdy rubber boots to soldiers.

The rubber Wellington boot helped keep trench foot at bay. In total, the company produced more than 1.8million pairs.  

The company was commissioned to make rubber boots for soldiers during the Second World War. In addition they made gas masks and tyres for military vehicles.

1950s: Creation of an icon 

After World War II, boot making had to move to a larger factory in Heathhall, Dumfries, to deal with the rise in demand as the rubber Wellington boot had become popular with farmers and industry workers.

In 1956 the Original Green Wellington, a style later became known as the Original boot, was debuted. The style is still a staple of the Hunter brand.  

The distinctive green colour was considered to be more high-class than the common black and was favoured by members of Britain's upper-classes.

1970s: Royal seal of approval 

Hunter was awarded a Royal Warrant by Appointment to HRH Duke of Edinburgh in 1977.  

The company later received a Royal Warrant by The Queen in 1986.

1980s: The Diana effect

In 1981 they were worn by Princess Diana in her engagement photos, the distinctive 'Hunter' label clearly visible. 

Buoyed by Diana's endorsement, green Hunters became the weekend uniform of Sloane Rangers as they visited their country piles.   

2000s: Shift in fortunes 

In 2004, Hunter became a stand-alone company for the first time, after being bought out by an investor group. 

The company went into administration in 2006 after suffering cash flow problems due to high production costs.  It was bought out by a private consortium, with production moving to Asia in 2008.  

Mid-2000s: Celebrity fans

Model Kate Moss was spotted wearing Hunter wellies to Glastonbury in 2005 and Hunter soon started adapting the boot for a wider market, releasing them in a range of colours and prints. 

No longer just for the upper-classes, Hunter Wellington boots are favoured by students and festival-goers alike. 

It now counts the US as it's largest market. 

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