Coopershoes closes footwear production plant in Argentina

The Brazilian-owned company Coopershoes has ceased footwear production at its plant in the Las Flores Industrial Park in Argentina. The closure follows a significant reduction in activity, resulting in the dismissal of the remaining production workers.

At the beginning of 2023, the facility employed approximately 380 people, but staff numbers declined progressively due to falling orders. A major factor was the reduction and eventual disappearance of orders from Converse, a brand the factory had produced for years alongside others such as Grimoldi and Pony. Currently, only nine employees remain at the site to handle administrative tasks.

The labor union UTICRA has linked the factory's decline to falling domestic consumption and an increase in footwear imports. The closure is expected to impact the local economy of Las Flores, affecting suppliers, local businesses, and service providers that depend on the industrial park.