MUNICH (dpa-AFX) - Hugo Boss boss Daniel Grieder is open to takeovers. "If we want to grow as a company to a different size, this would also be possible in the long term, for example through acquisitions. And we are keeping that option open," the manager told the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" (Saturday edition). "We have always said that we don't want to overstretch the brand; growth also has its limits". He could imagine that options could arise in the future.

There is a lot going on in the industry at the moment, the manager continued. "These are challenging times for many brands. If something comes up, then we are basically open." The Swiss national has been head of Hugo Boss since 2021 and was previously at Tommy Hilfiger. There, too, he first restructured the company and then bought competitor Calvin Klein. When asked whether Hugo Boss will soon overtake Hilfiger, he said: "I think we are well on the way."

Commenting on the problems of many department store groups, especially in Germany, Grieder said: "We will not go unnoticed. But business is not necessarily being lost." It is shifting. People would then buy more online or in Boss stores. He was satisfied with the restructuring: "Three years ago, Boss and Hugo were hardly relevant anymore, you have to say. Today, we are back on the stage." Boss has even achieved more than planned. In 2023, sales amounted to 4.2 billion euros./he/tih