Salomon-Backed Shoe Factory in Barcelos Will Create 580 Jobs by 2030

A new high-tech sports shoe factory is coming to Barcelos in northern Portugal, with production set to begin in July and employment expected to scale from 210 jobs at launch to 580 by 2030.

The facility belongs to Advanced Shoe Factory (ASF 4.0), a subsidiary of the French industrial group Chamatex, and marks a significant bet on Portugal’s manufacturing capacity in the competitive global footwear market.

From Factory Floor to 1.5 Million Pairs

The first phase of the project covers a 4,200-square-metre production site in the parish of Silveiros, along National Road 204. Two production lines will launch with an annual capacity of 500,000 pairs, with the French outdoor brand Salomon confirmed as the first client — continuing a long-standing partnership with ASF 4.0.

Two further expansions are planned. By 2030, the factory aims to produce 1.5 million pairs annually, tripling output and nearly tripling its workforce in the process.

Star-Studded Investor List

The project’s backers read like an unusual coalition of sport and industry. Among the investors is Carlos Tavares, the Portuguese executive who led Stellantis as CEO until recently, alongside Teddy Riner, the French Olympic judo champion. The financing was anchored by a capital increase of around seven million euros from ASF 4.0, supplemented by bank lending.

The factory will be supported by ASF 4.0’s existing research centre in Ardoix, in the French Alps, which focuses on advanced manufacturing techniques for sports footwear. The Barcelos facility represents the group’s strategy to bring production closer to European markets — a trend accelerated by supply chain disruptions and growing demand for shorter lead times.

Part of a Broader Industrial Wave

The Barcelos project is the latest in a string of industrial investments landing in northern Portugal. Earlier this week, Spanish aluminium giant Cortizo announced a 100-million-euro factory in nearby Chaves. The municipality of Barcelos has positioned itself to compete for these projects, establishing a dedicated Investment Support Office to streamline approvals and logistics.

Mayor Mário Constantino Lopes described the factory as “a very important investment for Barcelos, not only because it can act as an anchor for new investors in the municipality, but also because of the number of jobs it will create.”

Why It Matters

Portugal’s footwear industry has long punched above its weight, ranking among Europe’s top exporters with a reputation for quality craftsmanship. But the sector has faced pressure from Asian competition and automation. Projects like ASF 4.0 represent a new model: high-tech, internationally backed, and focused on premium segments where European production retains a competitive edge.

For the Barcelos region, which already has deep roots in textile and footwear manufacturing, the factory reinforces the area’s identity as an industrial hub while offering something the local economy badly needs — hundreds of jobs that do not require relocation to Lisbon or Porto.

Background: See BA Glass's 41% acquisition of Tunisia's Sotuver.