Maker of Hush Puppies Shoes to Shut Factories

Wolverine World Wide Inc., the maker of Hush Puppies shoes, said it will close factories in five cities and cut 1,400 jobs, or 25% of its work force. The cuts are part of Wolverine’s new strategic plan to consolidate operations at profitable facilities and focus on a narrower product range, said Timothy J. O’Donovan, president and newly appointed chief executive. The company will close plants in Malone, N.Y.; Kirksville, Mo.; Aguadilla, Puerto Rico; San Jose, Costa Rica; and Ontario, Canada. Wolverine, which manufactures a variety of footwear and outdoor apparel and accessories, expects to remain competitive with a mix of sourced and owned production, O’Donovan said. News of the closings came as Rockford, Mich.-based Wolverine reported a 14% increase in second-quarter earnings to $7.6 million, or 18 cents a share, a penny better than estimates. Sales grew 7% to $140.6 million. Wolverine shares rose 69 cents to $11.13 on Nasdaq.