Nordways

What Nordways does

Nordways is a French professional safety footwear manufacturer founded in 1977 and headquartered in Valence, Drôme, France. The company designs and distributes anti-slip shoes, clogs, safety sneakers, boots, and accessories targeted at four primary verticals: HoReCa (hotels, restaurants, cafés), food and beverage/light industry, medical/healthcare, and hygiene and public services. It is integrated into Groupe JLF, a footwear-accessories leader, since 2022, which provides manufacturing capacity at the Villebois-Lavalette production site.

The product range is built around proprietary sole technologies (Hexagrip®, Extragrip®, n2w®, nwshark®) and proprietary microfibre upper materials (Techlite®, Dynatech®, Fulltech®), developed in-house at the Nordways LAB established in 2012 in collaboration with podology and health experts. Products carry EN ISO 20345 and EN ISO 20347 compliance across multiple protection classes (SB, S1, S1P, S2, S3, S4, S5), with SRC anti-slip, ESD, and autoclavability certifications. More than 80% of manufacturing is sourced from European facilities (Italy, Sweden, Germany, Eastern Europe).

Nordways monetizes through three revenue streams: (1) direct-to-consumer e-commerce at nordways.fr with credit-card payment via Stripe, (2) B2B wholesale to a reseller/retailer network operating a formal become-a-retailer program with no minimum order quantity and free shipping on orders of 30+ pairs, and (3) product customization services including laser printing and logo application. Pricing spans roughly €30–€140+ per pair for footwear, with accessories from ~€11. Permanent stocking of 95% of the range enables 72-hour delivery, equivalent to ~3.5 months of sales stock coverage. The company also operates a chef ambassador program with 250+ French culinary professionals and partnerships with culinary schools (École Lenôtre, FERRANDI Paris) and industry associations (AFLYTH, ANEPHOT, Académie Culinaire de France).

Name

Nordways

Legal name

NORDWAYS

Website

https://nordways.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nordways is a French professional safety footwear manufacturer founded in 1977, producing anti-slip shoes, clogs, and sneakers for the HoReCa, healthcare, food processing, and public service sectors. It sells via DTC e-commerce, a B2B reseller network, and customization services, now operating under Groupe JLF.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Safety Footwear

NAICS

Footwear Manufacturing (3162), Shoe Retailers (45821), Footwear Merchant Wholesalers (42434)

SIC

Footwear, (No Rubber) (3140), Retail-Shoe Stores (5661), Leather & Leather Products (3100)

akta.pro primary industry

Work, Safety & Protective Footwear Manufacturing (Steel-Toe/ESD/Slip-Resistant) (IMAOAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Work, Safety & Occupational Footwear (CRAAACAE), Comfort, Orthopedic & Medical Footwear (CRAAACAG)

Keywords

• Professional safety footwear
• Non-slip work shoes
• Kitchen chef sneakers
• Medical clogs
• Industrial safety boots

Headquarters

HQ city

Valence

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct product sales (B2C): Nordways sells professional safety footwear and accessories directly to end-consumers through its e-commerce website (nordways.fr). Products are sold as one-time purchases at listed prices, with payment collected upfront via credit card (Stripe/3DS secure payment).
2. B2B wholesale to resellers/retailers: Nordways supplies its range of professional footwear to approved B2B resellers and retailers. Pricing is sent in Excel format with annual revision. No minimum order quantities for retailers. Delivery free of charge for orders of 30+ pairs in France.
3. Product customization services: Nordways offers personalization services including custom designs, laser printing, and logotage (logo printing on shoes). These add-on services generate additional revenue on top of base product prices.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Nordways designs, manufactures, and distributes professional safety footwear — including kitchen shoes, clogs, work sneakers, safety boots, and duty shoes — primarily for the HoReCa, medical, food processing, and public services sectors. The company offers customization services such as laser printing and logotage (logo printing on shoes), and sells accessories including work socks and ergonomic insoles. Products comply with EN ISO 20345 and EN ISO 20347 safety standards and are largely manufactured in Europe (Italy, Sweden, Eastern Europe, Germany).

Product overview

Nordways is a French professional safety footwear company founded in 1977, headquartered in Valence, Drôme. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of professional shoes organized into several product lines: Professional sneakers (including NJOY, NFIT, NRUN, MAEL, RUN LITE EVO), Kitchen shoes (NLOCK, BRICE, BRICE PLUS, PRIMO, TED, TONY, MAËL MONTANTE), Safety clogs (NFORZ, NFLY, BORA, EGO, FIONA, MADO, BJORNSON EVO, SILVO, SILVO Très Grandes Pointures, THOR), Safety boots (DELTA, OMEGA), Duty/security shoes (BERND, JENNY, RUN CLASSIC, DAN, SOPHIE, TED Très Grandes Pointures), and Accessories (NFRESH work socks, REFLEX insoles). The products serve multiple industries including HoReCa (Hotels, Restaurants, Cafes), food and beverage, medical, hygiene and public services, and light industry. The company emphasizes comfort, safety standards compliance (EN ISO 20345, EN ISO 20347, SRC), and European manufacturing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NJOY Work Sneaker Professional sneaker engineered with Hexagrip® technology for superior traction and a sole made from recycled materials, delivering maximum comfort on any surface for professional use. Targeted at HoReCa and general professional workers.
• NFIT Slip-On Professional Shoe Slip-on professional shoe designed for easy wearing without laces, offering convenience for professional environments requiring quick on/off footwear.
• NLOCK Kitchen Shoe Kitchen shoe designed for the Hotel, Restaurant and Café (HoReCa) sector, providing slip resistance and comfort for food service professionals.
• NRUN Safety Sneaker Safety sneaker offering ESD (electrostatic discharge) protection for professional use in environments with electronic equipment or static-sensitive operations.
• MAËL Professional Leather Kitchen Sneaker Professional leather kitchen sneaker designed for chefs, combining aesthetics with comfort for long work hours. Endorsed by Michelin-starred chefs and MOF title holders.
• NFORZ Safety Clog Robust and comfortable SRC-certified safety clog designed for professional use in food service and industrial environments.
• NFRESH Work Socks Short, resistant, and breathable work sock made with Coolmax polyester fibers. Antistatic and quick-drying with loop-knit sole for comfort and durability, compatible with ESD and antistatic safety shoes.
• REFLEX Comfort Insole Extra-supple and breathable comfort insole made with a specific blend of TPU elastomer bubbles and PU, providing cushioning, rebound, breathability, and durability for reduced walking fatigue from prolonged static posture.
• Customization Services (Laser Printing & Logotage) Product personalization services including custom designs, laser printing, and logotage (logo printing on shoes). These add-on services enable professional buyers to brand footwear with company logos or custom designs.
• MAËL MONTANTE High-Top Kitchen Sneaker High-top professional leather kitchen sneaker for chefs, providing extended ankle support while maintaining comfort for long work hours.
• RUN LITE EVO Professional Running Shoe Ultra-light professional running shoe suitable for medical and kitchen use, offering lightweight comfort for professionals on their feet all day.
• EGO Autoclavable Medical Clog Lightweight and autoclavable medical clog suitable for hospital environments, including operating theatres requiring sterile footwear that can withstand autoclave sterilization.
• BJORNSSON EVO Safety Clog SB SRC E FO certified safety clog for kitchen and food service environments, designed for Scandinavian-style professional wear.
• DELTA Safety Boot S4 SRC safety boot for industry and food processing, providing waterproof protection and slip resistance for demanding industrial environments.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of product range held in permanent stock, enabling 72-hour delivery to customers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AFLYTH (Association Française des Lycées d'Hôtellerie et de Tourisme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFLYTH is a network of public and private educational institutions under contract providing training in restaurant, tourism, and hotel sectors, along with companies in these fields. Nordways partners with AFLYTH to reach hospitality students and schools, providing footwear to future professionals and building brand loyalty early in chefs' careers.
• ANEPHOT (Association Nationale des Établissements d'Hôtellerie)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerANEPHOT is a non-profit association representing approximately sixty secondary schools across France. Its mission is to promote all member institutions to training partners in initial and continuing education in hospitality and tourism. Nordways partners with ANEPHOT to reach hospitality schools and support student footwear needs.
• École LenôtrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerÉcole Lenôtre is open to career changers, professionals seeking to deepen their skills, companies looking for team-building ideas, and amateurs wanting to learn more about gastronomy. Nordways partners with École Lenôtre to equip students and trainees with professional footwear, reinforcing brand credibility in pastry and culinary arts.
• FERRANDI PariscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFERRANDI Paris trains the elite of gastronomy and hospitality management in France and internationally. Founded over 100 years ago and part of CCI Paris Ile-de-France Education, FERRANDI is associated with generations of chefs and hospitality managers. Nordways partners with FERRANDI to provide professional footwear to culinary students and chefs.
• Académie Culinaire de France (ACF) USA & CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Académie Culinaire de France USA & Canada delegation perpetuates the great tradition of French culinary excellence and science. Their mission is to Defend, Improve, and Transmit the French Culinary Arts worldwide. Nordways partnered with ACF at events in Nantes including the ACF ceremony and Trophée Passion competition, providing professional footwear for chefs.
• Les Vergers BoironminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLes Vergers Boiron is a world reference in frozen fruit and vegetable purees with over 15,000 tonnes sold annually in 80 countries. Nordways is partnered with Les Vergers Boiron, a leading food industry brand, to build credibility within the professional food sector.
• RougiéminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRougié inspires culinary audacity in chefs for nearly 150 years with exceptional foie gras and specialty products. Nordways partners with Rougié, a prestigious food industry brand, at events and promotions targeting professional chefs.
• Andros ChefminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAndros Chef provides the widest range of 100% natural fruit ingredients without any added aromas, serving curious professionals in the culinary world. Nordways is partnered with Andros Chef, sharing synergies in the professional food and hospitality ecosystem.
• Les Artcutiers (GIE)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLes Artcutiers is an economic interest group composed of SMEs specializing in distributing quality specific food products. Their mission is to offer a selected range of quality and specific products from producers and artisans at a fair price. Nordways partners with Les Artcutiers within the food professional community.
• Groupe JLFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNordways integrated into Groupe JLF in 2022, a leader in footwear accessories. This integration provided Nordways access to the Villebois-Lavalette production facility (historical JLF Pro® site) enabling advanced customization including laser engraving and logotage services, and leveraging shared manufacturing and distribution capabilities.
• DPD FranceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDPD France is Nordways' logistics partner for domestic French delivery. Orders placed before 2pm are dispatched the next day and typically received on Thursday for mainland France, with delivery free of charge for orders of 30+ pairs.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Uvex Safety Group: Uvex is a leading European safety footwear and PPE manufacturer, producing EN ISO 20345/20347-certified work shoes, clogs, and boots for industrial, food, and healthcare professionals — directly competitive with Nordways' certified professional footwear range.
• Bata Industrials: Bata Industrials is one of the world's largest professional safety footwear manufacturers, with a wide range of EN-certified work shoes for food service, healthcare, and industry — a direct competitor across Nordways' core occupational segments.
• ABEBAspezialschuh-Austattungs-Bedarf: Abeba is a German manufacturer of professional and occupational footwear, particularly strong in kitchen, healthcare, and HoReCa segments, making it a directly comparable European work-shoe specialist.
• Elten GmbH: Elten is a German safety footwear manufacturer offering EN ISO 20345-certified shoes for industry, food processing, and service workers — overlapping with Nordways' industrial and food & beverage product lines.
• Albatros / HP (Hoffmann Group): Albatros is a work and safety footwear brand under the Hoffmann Group serving industrial and professional users with certified safety shoes and clogs — competing for Nordways' non-HoReCa professional buyers.
• Birkenstock Professional: Birkenstock Professional offers occupational and medical-grade footwear built on the brand's footbed technology, directly addressing Nordways' medical, healthcare, and comfort footwear segments.

Emerging players

• Snibbs: Snibbs is an emerging chef-specific slip-resistant footwear brand targeting the same HoReCa kitchen professional segment as Nordways MAËL and NLOCK lines, using a direct-to-consumer model.

Broad incumbents

• Crocs Inc. Crocs is a broad incumbent in casual and professional clog footwear, with its Crocs Work and Crocs at Work lines directly competing with Nordways' NFORZ, BORA, NFLY and EGO professional clogs in healthcare and food service.
• Honeywell Safety: Honeywell Safety is a global incumbent in occupational PPE, including a full portfolio of certified safety footwear distributed to industrial, food, and healthcare buyers — competing for the same institutional B2B contracts as Nordways.
• Skechers Work: Skechers Work extends the global Skechers brand into slip-resistant occupational footwear for hospitality, healthcare, and service workers — overlapping with Nordways' sneaker-style work shoes in the same customer segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses7 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCacKXmRB7KeaolwcahkXTeA
• Facebookfacebook.com/Nordwayschaussure
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nord'ways
• Instagraminstagram.com/nordways.shoes

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nordways