Carité
Carité is a Portuguese footwear manufacturing group based in Felgueiras that produces private-label footwear for international brands and, as a FAIST consortium partner, is researching 3D-printed shoe lasts with the University of Aveiro and CTCP.
- CEO / Founder
- Reinaldo Teixeira
- Team Size
- 501-1000
- Stage
- Active
Technology & Products
Key Products
Complete footwear manufactured under subcontract for international brands; women's footwear (Brada Shoes plant); safety footwear; in-house prefabricated and injection-moulded soles; own brand JRSneakers. AM-related activity: research on 3D-printed footwear lasts and 3D modelling/printing for prototypes.
Technological Advantage
Testbed partner for FAIST technologies including 3D-printed lasts, robotic finishing, high-frequency upper fusion, RFID-enabled flexible production lines and AI-based production management; ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Quality-focused, mid-to-high-end footwear production for international brands, exporting almost all output, while modernising through automation, robotisation, digitalisation and research into additively manufactured lasts as a lighter, lower-cost alternative to traditional resin lasts in early development.
How They Differentiate
Scale (multiple plants across northern Portugal), near-total export orientation to major international brands, and an active role as a technology testbed in the FAIST programme.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
International footwear brands buying private-label footwear, including sportswear and Italian luxury brands.
Industry Verticals
Footwear; Fashion & Luxury; Sportswear; Safety Footwear
Competitors
Kyaia; Bolflex
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
Approximately 550-650 employees; revenue about €37.7M-€45.3M per PME Líder listings and around €50M per ECO; received about €2.11M in PRR grant funding as a FAIST beneficiary (non-equity).
Major Milestones
1986: Reinaldo Teixeira starts shoe-stitching services as sole proprietor; May 1990: Carité Calçados incorporated with 85 workers; 1994: moves to complete footwear production; 1995: begins exporting nearly all production; 2009: turnover exceeds €10M; 2012-13: Topikrelevo I & II plants open in Celorico de Basto; 2016: Brada Shoes plant and prefabricated sole unit open; 2018: ARDA factory opens in Castelo de Paiva, ISO 9001/14001 certification; 2021: founder becomes President of CTCP; 2022-2026: FAIST partner incl. 3D-printed last research.
Notable Customers
Adidas