Hunter Boot gives it some welly as sales and profits soar at designer wellies brand

By Sarah Bridge, Financial Mail on Sunday

Updated: 10:30 EDT, 11 October 2015

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They have been worn by everyone from the Queen to Kate Moss and Keira Knightley.

Designer wellies brand Hunter Boot is continuing to flourish under the creative direction of Stella McCartney’s husband Alasdhair Willis.

The Edinburgh-based company, founded in 1856 by an American entrepreneur and majority owned by Searchlight Capital Partners, has revealed a 17 per cent jump in sales to £95.7million for the year to December 31, 2014 and pre-tax profits of £15.4million, up from £14.6million.

Boot camp: The Hunter Original show during London Fashion Week

Turnover was boosted by growing popularity in the US and Canada, the opening of a new store in London’s Regent Street and continuing investment in selling its products online.

However, the firm decided against issuing a dividend, having paid out £10million the previous year.

Under Willis’s direction, the company introduced two new brand names, Hunter Original and Hunter Field.

Hunter Boot holds Royal Warrants from the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

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