Gov. Nathan Deal and economic development partners celebrated the news that adidas will open a new footwear production site in Cherokee County, creating approximately 160 new jobs.
The industry-defining, state-of-the-art facility, called adidas SPEEDFACTORY, will allow adidas to create product more quickly and closer to U.S. consumers.
“For years our industry has been playing by the same rules manufacturing product remotely in Asia,” said adidas Group Executive Board Member Eric Liedtke, responsible for Global Brands. “As the creator brand that challenges convention and looks to co-create the future with our consumers, we are obsessed with bringing all steps of the creation process home to America. We’re fueling design at the ground level of creativity in Brooklyn and reinventing manufacturing with the first adidas SPEEDFACTORY in Atlanta. This allows us to make product for the consumer, with the consumer, where the consumer lives in real time, unleashing unparalleled creativity and endless opportunities for customization in America.”
The first-of-its-kind business model advances adidas’ consumer-centric approach to product creation, allowing the brand to decentralize production and react faster to consumer needs. Equipped with cutting-edge manufacturing technologies, the U.S. factory enables adidas to create products in increasingly high volumes with advanced complexity in color, materials and sizes.
adidas is opening the door for unprecedented customization of high-performance products with unique fit, comfort and look. The U.S. facility allows adidas to source and produce locally, limiting long shipping distances and driving the brand’s commitment to sustainability.
“Speed is far more than a business strategy for us,” said adidas Group Executive Board Member Glenn Bennett, responsible for Global Operations. “Speed is all around us. It’s what athletes train for, and it’s essential to our consumers who live in a world of immediacy. With the first U.S.-based SPEEDFACTORY, we’re combining some of the world’s best technology and manufacturing processes to give our consumers access to constant newness. This is another big step in our ambition to become the world’s first true fast sports brand.”
The more than 74,000-square-foot Atlanta factory will be fully functional in the back-half of 2017. With a focus on running footwear, adidas is targeting production of 50,000 pairs in 2017. In the mid-term, adidas aims to produce half a million pairs of shoes for running and other categories. The U.S. SPEEDFACTORY will create around 160 jobs.
“Georgia offers industry leaders such as adidas the necessary resources to compete worldwide,” said Georgia Governor Nathan Deal. “Our state is emerging as a sports corridor for Southeastern U.S., and our business-friendly climate will be a match for adidas’ new operation. We look forward to working with our partners in Cherokee County and at the Metro Atlanta Chamber to support adidas in future growth.”
The U.S. factory complements adidas' first SPEEDFACTORY in Germany. The U.S. and Germany facilities are operated by adidas’ strategic partner Oechsler.
“Georgia offers industry leaders such as adidas the necessary resources to compete worldwide,” said Deal. “Our state is emerging as a sports corridor for Southeastern U.S., and our business-friendly climate will be a match for adidas’ new operation. We look forward to working with our partners in Cherokee County and the Metro Atlanta Chamber to support adidas in future growth.”
“adidas is a company dedicated to innovation, quality, and sustainability, as is Cherokee County,” said Marshall Day, chairman of the board for the Cherokee Office of Economic Development. “We appreciate the opportunity to work with our state and regional partners on this exciting venture.”
“adidas’ decision to open its new SPEEDFACTORY facility in Cherokee County further cements metro Atlanta as a gateway for global business,” said Hala Moddelmog, president and CEO of the Metro Atlanta Chamber. “We’re thrilled to see the leading footwear brand will increase its current Atlanta workforce with the creation of 160 new jobs.”
“We were delighted to be alongside Governor Deal in Germany when adidas’ leadership notified us of this great economic development win for Georgia,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) Commissioner Chris Carr. “Promoting Georgia as a premier place in which to do business on the global stage is increasingly important, and we have an incredible international team at the Department that is well-suited to facilitate. We want to thank our economic development partners in Cherokee County and the Metro Atlanta Chamber as they were instrumental in this process.”
GDEcD Director of International Investment Nico Wijnberg represented the Global Commerce division throughout this project in partnership with the Cherokee Office of Economic Development, the Metro Atlanta Chamber and Georgia Power.
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