Rossi Boots to resurrect bootmaking factory at Kilburn following collapse of manufacturing contractor

The purchase of another company’s SA-based assets will keep the iconic company on the front-foot in Australia, it says.

Former Rossi Boots CEO Myran Man with employees in 2017 after the company got a $250,000 State Government grant.

Rossi Boots will continue to be made in South Australia after the bootmaker bought the assets of its failed Kilburn manufacturer, the company has announced.

The future of Rossi Boots in SA and 110-years of manufacturing tradition was thrown into doubt after the company’s manufacturer Adaptive Industries was placed in the hands of receivers in November with the loss of 35 jobs.

Rossi Boots announced on social media that it had bought the SA-based assets of Adaptive Industries which will “ensure a continued manufacturing presence” in Australia.

“Rossi Boots will continue to be a strong competitor in the Australian and international boot markets for many years to come and we are pleased that it will continue to have manufacturing capability in Australia,” Rossi Boots chief executive Caroline Elliott said on the company’s Facebook page.

The Advertiser understands that liquidator KPMG sold the majority of plant and equipment to Rossi Boots.

Ms Elliott announced shortly after Adaptive Industries’ closure that Rossi Boots – part of the Melbourne-based apparel firm the Propel Group – wanted to have a manufacturing presence in Australia.

Propel Group and Adelaide investment firm GP Securities took a majority stake in Rossi Boots in April 2020 following a restructure.

The late Dean Rossite inside Rossi Boots former Hilton premises, when the company was still under control of his family.

The Rossiter family, who started Rossi Boots in 1910, retained a 20 per cent share in the company. Family members are also shareholders in Adaptive Industries.

CFMMEU state secretary Dave Kirner said that representatives of Rossi Boots had flown to Adelaide today to interview former workers.

But Mr Kirner said the union was advising members not to attend because there could be a risk to redundancy payments.

“The union is concerned with Rossiter family members as part owners of Rossi Boots Pty Ltd, that there may be an impact on employees FEG payments if they are employed by Rossi Boots,” he said.

The Advertiser has sought comment from Ms Elliott about her company’s long-term plans for the Kilburn site and workforce.

Former Adaptive Industries chief executive Myron Mann told The Advertiser last year that COVID-19 had disrupted the company’s supply chain.

A report to creditors by liquidator KPMG reveals Adaptive Industries owes $1.64m to secured creditors, largely employees, and $2.1m to unsecured creditors.

Among the largest single debts are $637,625 to the ATO and $235,116 to Revenue SA.

Adaptive Industries had estimated realisable assets of $575,687.