Millet back in the hands of its founding family
French outdoor brand Millet was founded in 1921 by Hermance and Marc Millet and is now back in the family hands as two of its key investors, Inspiring Sport Capital and Nouvel Atlas have sold their stake in the company to the Millet family. In 2022, when the brand was part of the Swiss group Calida, Inspiring Sport Capital had brought in a group of investors, including Nouvel Atlas, the investment arm of the Lemarchand family (founders of Nature & Découvertes, a retailer). One year later, the Millet family had increased its stake to 80%.
These past five years, the company has undergone a complete overhaul. The Lafuma brand was sold and one of the Millet-owned manufacturing facilities closed. A new visual identity was introduced along with a more premium product offering. International sales have also grown in the Alpine region and in Asia, specifically Japan where the brand generates 25% of its revenues, and China. Under the leadership of Romain Millet, the company has strengthened its position in the outdoor sector and company sales now exceed €100 million.
“We would like to extend our warmest thanks to ISC and Nouvel Atlas for their strategic and operational support over the last five years. Now a wholly family-owned business, the company is committed to a cycle of sustainable growth, guided by confidence, responsibility and purpose,” commented company CEO Romain Millet.
Photo courtesy of Millet shows products from a recent collaboration with skatewear brand Element
