V+J OBUV

STRONG GROUP – STRONG PARTNERSHIP

V+J OBUV, s.r.o. and VJ Schuh GmbH, which together form the VJ GROUP, are members of ANWR GROUP – one of Europe’s largest commercial groups operating in the footwear, sporting goods and leather goods sectors and in related services.

Through the Czech company V+J OBUV, which operates not only in the Czech Republic but also in Slovakia, Poland and other countries, and the Austrian company VJ Schuh, which is active in Austria, Germany and other German speaking countries, VJ GROUP participates actively in international cooperation across the EU and beyond. This connection enables us to combine in-depth knowledge of local markets with the backing of a financially strong European organisation, more than a century of history and an extensive network of retailers, suppliers and specialist service providers.

What is ANWR GROUP?

ANWR GROUP is an international commercial group headquartered in Mainhausen, Germany. It primarily brings together independent retailers, wholesalers and other business partners operating in footwear, sporting goods, leather goods and related retail services.

Its principal objective is to strengthen the long-term position of independent retailers in the European market. Members retain their own identity, independent management and local expertise while benefiting from shared commercial, financial, technological and marketing resources.

The group’s importance and economic strength are also reflected in its financial results. In 2025, ANWR GROUP generated consolidated revenue of EUR 625.6 million, while its total trading and settlement volume amounted to approximately EUR 19.6 billion.

In addition to footwear, sporting goods and leather goods, this total volume includes the extensive financial services provided by companies within the group. ANWR GROUP is therefore not only an important professional and commercial organisation, but also a financially strong and stable partner for European retail.

ANWR GROUP supports its members in particular in the following areas:

cooperation with manufacturers and suppliers,
purchasing and assortment management,
centralised financial settlement,
financing and other financial services,
retail and franchise concepts,
marketing and sales support,
digitalisation and e-commerce,
information technology,
product data and reporting,
training and professional consultancy,
development of stores and retail networks.

The wider ANWR GROUP structure includes, among others, the companies, services and retail concepts ANWR Schuh, QUICK SCHUH, SPORT 2000, REXOR, GOLDKRONE, schuhe.de, DZB BANK and AKTIVBANK.

More than 100 years of shared history

The history of ANWR GROUP dates back to 1919, when Nord-West-Schuhwaren-Einkaufsgenossenschaft eG was founded in Hamburg. Its purpose was to unite independent footwear retailers and strengthen their position in relation to large trading companies through joint purchasing, shared services and mutual cooperation.

From the outset, the organisation was based on an idea that remains relevant today: independent retailers preserve their own entrepreneurial identity while collectively gaining the strength, stability and opportunities of a large commercial group.

One of its founders and the first executive member of the Management Board was August Blanke. He described the essence of cooperation through two equally important principles: respect for tradition and a strong commitment to progress. This combination of enduring values and continuous modernisation became one of the central principles guiding the group’s subsequent development.

From Nord-West through Ariston to ANWR

Alongside the Hamburg cooperative, other professional associations of footwear retailers gradually developed. In 1926, an organisation was founded in Wuppertal-Barmen that would later evolve into Ariston Schuh-Einkaufsvereinigung eG.

Over the following decades, individual purchasing and commercial associations within the German footwear retail sector became increasingly interconnected. Nord-West-Schuhwaren-Einkaufsgenossenschaft merged with Ring-Schuh Einkaufsvereinigung, creating Nord-West-Ring-Schuheinkaufsgenossenschaft eG.

Another major milestone came in 2001, when Nord-West-Ring merged with Ariston Schuh-Einkaufsvereinigung. The new joint organisation adopted the name Ariston-Nord-West-Ring eG.

The name used today was formed from the initial letters:

Ariston – Nord – West – Ring

This is the origin of the present-day abbreviation ANWR.

Over more than a century, the original association focused primarily on joint footwear purchasing has developed into an extensive European group providing comprehensive commercial, financial, technological and advisory services.

The historical name Ariston-Nord-West-Ring was gradually replaced by today’s designation, ANWR GROUP eG, which better reflects the international reach and breadth of its activities.

A tradition of independent retail

The cooperative principle remains the foundation of ANWR GROUP. Rather than being a single centralised retail chain, the group is an extensive network of independent companies and retailers that cooperate in areas where collective action brings greater stability, better commercial terms and new opportunities for development.

Individual members remain independent business entities. They decide for themselves on their product ranges, commercial strategies, customer service and business development. Through the group, however, they gain access to tools, technologies, services and business opportunities that would be more difficult for an individual company to obtain.

VJ within ANWR GROUP

Through its companies, VJ GROUP is represented in several important European markets:

V+J OBUV, s.r.o. operates primarily in the Czech Republic and Slovakia,
VJ Schuh GmbH represents the group primarily in Austria and Germany.

The membership of both companies creates a strong link between the Czech-Slovak, Austrian-German and wider European business environments, enabling the entire VJ GROUP to make active use of ANWR GROUP’s expertise, contacts and infrastructure.

As a result, VJ combines:

knowledge of the Czech and German-speaking markets,
many years of experience in retail and wholesale,
direct cooperation with international suppliers,
its own retail and franchise concepts,
the development of proprietary brands and product collections,
the backing of a major European commercial group.

Our objective is not only to use ANWR GROUP’s services, but also to contribute actively to the development of the shared European footwear trade. We bring to this cooperation our experience across different distribution channels, knowledge of regional markets and long-standing relationships with manufacturers, business partners and end customers.

V+J OBUV as an important representative of ANWR GROUP in the Czech Republic

V+J OBUV, s.r.o. is not only a member of ANWR GROUP, but also one of its important representatives in the Czech market.

This position was further strengthened by the acquisition of NORD-WEST-RING PRAHA s.r.o., through which V+J OBUV assumed the group’s principal representation in the Czech Republic. In doing so, V+J OBUV continued Nord-West-Ring’s long-standing presence in the domestic market and took responsibility for the further development of its business activities and partner relationships in the Czech Republic.

The acquisition of NORD-WEST-RING PRAHA represents a significant milestone in the history of V+J OBUV. It enabled the company to expand its activities, strengthen relationships with independent footwear retailers and further develop international cooperation within ANWR GROUP.

V+J OBUV consequently gained not only a stronger position in the Czech footwear market, but also an important role in bringing ANWR GROUP’s expertise, retail concepts, technologies and services to the Czech business environment.

Thanks to this historical connection, V+J OBUV today:

develops relationships with Czech business partners and retailers,
brings international expertise into the local market,
supports the development of independent footwear retail,
develops the QUICK SCHUH and QUICK SHOES franchise concept in the Czech Republic,
connects the Czech market with ANWR GROUP’s European commercial network.

V+J OBUV – a strong position in the Czech market

V+J OBUV operates in both the retail and wholesale footwear sectors, manages its own and partner retail concepts and the online shops vjobuv.cz, quickshoes.cz and others, and cooperates with numerous Czech and international suppliers and customers.

An important part of its activities is the development of the QUICK SHOES network, based on the German QUICK SCHUH franchise concept belonging to ANWR GROUP. V+J OBUV adapts this concept to the Czech market, the needs of local customers and the conditions of individual regions.

Alongside QUICK SHOES, the company also develops other specialised retail projects and its own product brands, including WILD, WILD Barefoot, WILD Flexi and Q by WILD.

VJ Schuh – a link to German-speaking markets

VJ Schuh GmbH represents the German-speaking part of VJ GROUP. Its membership in ANWR GROUP strengthens the entire group’s direct connection to the German-speaking footwear market, supplier structures and the wider European business environment.

Through VJ Schuh’s operations in Austria and Germany, VJ GROUP can connect its business activities across Central Europe more effectively, develop international cooperation and respond more flexibly to new commercial opportunities.

The concurrent membership of V+J OBUV and VJ Schuh confirms that cooperation with ANWR GROUP is not limited to a single company or market, but forms part of the wider international strategy of the entire group.

QUICK SCHUH and QUICK SHOES

One of the most visible results of VJ GROUP’s cooperation with ANWR GROUP is the development of the QUICK SCHUH retail concept, operated in the Czech Republic under the name QUICK SHOES and, to a lesser extent, directly as QUICK SCHUH.

QUICK SCHUH is an established franchise concept focused on fashionable, comfortable and affordable footwear for the whole family. It combines the advantages of an internationally developed concept with independence and knowledge of the local market.

In the Czech Republic, V+J OBUV adapts the QUICK range to the needs of local customers. The stores offer women’s, men’s and children’s footwear from well-known international brands as well as brands developed by VJ GROUP.

We place particular emphasis on:

a broad selection of footwear for the whole family,
good value for money,
regular assortment updates,
access to current fashion trends,
knowledgeable and personal customer service,
integration of physical stores with the online environment.

What does membership bring to our customers?

The benefits of V+J OBUV’s and VJ Schuh’s membership in ANWR GROUP are reflected in the day-to-day operations of the entire group.

For our customers, these benefits include in particular:

a broad and regularly updated product range,
access to major European and global brands,
stable and proven supplier relationships,
a competitive product offering,
modern retail and online services,
higher-quality product information,
faster responses to new trends,
the assurance of strong and stable long-term backing.

Benefits for our business partners

Our wholesale customers, partners, affiliated stores and suppliers also benefit from VJ GROUP’s international resources.

We offer our partners not only access to an extensive product range, but also support with collection selection, product data, sales planning, marketing and the development of retail concepts.

Thanks to the membership of both companies in ANWR GROUP, we are able to combine:

the capabilities of a major European organisation,
experience from the Czech and German-speaking markets,
the flexibility of a privately owned commercial group,
personal communication and an individual approach,
long-standing relationships with manufacturers and suppliers.

Shared values and continued development

VJ and ANWR share the belief that the future of independent retail is built on cooperation, innovation and the ability to respond to customers’ changing needs.

ANWR’s history of more than a century demonstrates that a successful long-term commercial organisation must respect its traditions while continuously evolving. During this time, footwear retail has changed fundamentally – from local stores and joint purchasing to today’s integration of bricks-and-mortar retail, digital platforms, product data, modern logistics and online services.

The membership of V+J OBUV and VJ Schuh in ANWR GROUP helps us actively follow and shape this development. It enables us to modernise business processes, expand our offering, develop our own brands and provide new services to customers and business partners.

At the same time, we remain committed to the values on which VJ has long been built: reliability, expertise, a personal approach, long-term relationships and responsibility towards customers and partners.

You can find more information about the group on the website https://www.anwr-group.com/de/.