Grosvenor Shirts scores 2010 FIFA World Cup™ franchise

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster today announced that Grosvenor Shirts has scored a prestigious licence agreement for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.

Appointed by Global Brands Group, FIFA’s exclusive worldwide master licensee, Grosvenor, based in Strabane, will design and manufacture luxury formal shirts designed exclusively for each qualifying country.

Support from Invest Northern Ireland is helping Grosvenor Shirts to enhance manufacturing capability at its Strabane factory and carry out targeted marketing activity as it delivers work under the licensing agreement.

The Minister said: “The local textiles sector has faced many difficulties over the past decade, but Grosvenor Shirts’ focus on quality products, strong design and branding, and diversification has allowed it to retain market share. Grosvenor has also developed a strong partnership with Invest NI which has helped the company to achieve such success.

“This high profile contract will give Grosvenor global recognition through the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ branded product range and will open up new opportunities for export sales and worldwide franchise agreements.”

The limited edition merchandise will be sold directly through Grosvenor Shirts’ two London stores, on its website and into high end retail stores worldwide.

Karl Dunkley, Founder and Managing Director of Grosvenor Shirts, said: "We are delighted to have been granted this licence. It fits with our strategic plans to develop franchisee initiatives on a global basis. This year Grosvenor Shirts celebrates 10 years of designing and manufacturing quality gentlemen’s shirts. We have successfully established our brand in the competitive London fashion market and are keen to establish the brand internationally.

"Invest NI has been extremely supportive and its commitment to this latest project has helped us to fully exploit opportunities arising from this new license."

Notes to editors:

1. About Grosvenor Shirts: Grosvenor Shirts, of Mayfair London, design and produce a unique range of luxury items, all of which are made exclusively within the United Kingdom. Best known for their impeccable and highly stylish made-to-measure shirts, Grosvenor Shirts offers a wide range of unique styles and limited edition products including Mens and Ladies shirts, Men’s Ties, Cuff Links, Boxer Shorts and socks.
2. About FIFA: For more than 100 years, FIFA, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, founded on 21 May 1904 in Paris and better known as FIFA, has continued to provide the essential leadership role to the international football family. FIFA is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. The eighth FIFA President,
   Joseph S. Blatter (Switzerland), guides the organisation today .
3. FIFA's members form the basis of the world’s football family. From the founding seven, the family has today grown to 208 affiliated football associations, also organised into six confederations spanning the globe. FIFA’s worldwide activities go well beyond its various competitions, such as the world’s biggest single-sport event, the FIFA World Cup. FIFA gives material, financial and promotional support to develop the game around the world through projects such as FIFA Goal or Futuro. Underprivileged people and communities benefit from the Football for Hope movement that FIFA and streetfootballworld founded in 2005 to promote and support local organisations that are using the power of the game for social development.
4. For more information on FIFA and its competitions, especially on the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, please visit the official FIFA website
5. About Global Brands Group: Global Brands Group is the world's leading independent, international brand management, retail and licensing company. Global Brands Group's passion for managing brands is tied to its desire to building sustainable equity and creating new branding opportunities through geographic expansion, category extension and retail innovation. Through its international network of offices across six continents, Global Brands Group maximises revenue potential by creating manufacturing, retail and distribution partnerships worldwide.
6. Global Brands Group's business is focused on product licensing, merchandising and retail development. Currently Global Brands Group's growing portfolio of intellectual properties includes brands created by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the PGA TOUR Licensed Properties, Inc. (PGA TOUR), Federation Internationale de Basketball (FIBA) and Warner Bros. Consumer Products among others.
7. With corporate headquarters located in Singapore, Global Brands Group has a network of 14 offices in major cities around the world including London, Dubai, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Sydney, Buenos Aires and Johannesburg. www.globalbrandsgroup.com
8. For media enquiries please contact: DETI Press Office, Telephone: 028 9052 9297. Out of office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
9. Quintessentially, Katie Marshall, Quintessentially Communications, T: 0207 758 3363 E: katie@quintessentially.com
10. For Global Brands Group, Simon Bristow, Pitch PR, T: +44 207 494 1616 E: simon.bristow@pitch.co.uk