About Us
About GRS Footwear
Five Generations of Footwear Expertise Since 1880
GRS Footwear (George Rye & Sons Ltd) is a family-owned footwear business with a heritage that stretches back over 140 years. Founded in 1880, the company has evolved from a small leather manufacturing operation into one of the UK’s leading footwear distributors, while remaining firmly rooted in its original values of quality, reliability and long-term relationships.
Our History
A North East Legacy Since 1880
The story of GRS Footwear begins in 1879, when George Smart Rye arrived in Newcastle upon Tyne from Northampton, then the heart of the UK shoe manufacturing industry. In 1880, he established an upper-manufacturing business at 45 Groat Market, working alongside established shoemaker George Clarke.
The business quickly flourished, supplying the many shoe manufacturers and repairers operating across the region at the time. George Smart Rye soon became one of Newcastle’s most recognisable business figures, thanks to a combination of sharp commercial instincts and a larger-than-life personality.
Growth, Resilience & Adaptation
In 1900, George’s son George Edward Rye joined the company, expanding both the product range and customer base. After returning from service in the First World War, he recognised the changing nature of the footwear industry and made a pivotal decision: shifting the business towards wholesaling leather and grindery materials.
This strategic move proved vital as mass-production factories emerged across the Midlands, and it fuelled rapid growth throughout the 1920s. In 1928, the company expanded into neighbouring buildings at 41–43 Groat Market, forming a five-storey warehouse that would become synonymous with the brand for decades.
Five Generations of Family Ownership
Following George Edward Rye’s passing in 1962, the company was led by his son Edward Rye, who successfully navigated the business through some of the most challenging years in footwear history, including the devastating winter of 1963, when over a third of the company’s customers were forced to close due to harsh weather and changing footwear trends.
Through two world wars, economic depressions, rationing and material shortages, GRS Footwear remained in family ownership, a rare achievement in the modern footwear industry.
Modern Expansion & Distribution
In 1964, current Chairman Michael Rye joined the business and began expanding into footwear distribution, initially sourcing from UK factories before expanding across Europe. This marked the beginning of the company’s largest growth phase.
By 1983, GRS Footwear relocated from Groat Market to a larger industrial site in Newcastle, before moving again in 2008 to a purpose-built distribution centre in Cramlington, Northumberland, where the business operates today.
In 1992, Martin Rye, the fifth generation of the Rye family, joined the business, continuing a legacy that now spans more than a century.
Our Brands
Today, GRS Footwear is best known for distributing and developing market-leading footwear brands across the UK and beyond.
Lunar Shoes
Founded in 1990, Lunar Shoes was created with a simple goal: to design stylish, colourful and elegant footwear at prices accessible to everyday women. By introducing fashion-forward materials and trims rarely seen in footwear at the time, Lunar quickly became a favourite in department stores and independent boutiques.
Now offering boots, comfort lines, sandals and wellingtons, the Lunar design team produces over 300 new designs each season, staying true to the brand’s ethos:
Love Shoes. Love Lunar.
Grisport
GRS Footwear is one of the largest UK distributors of Grisport, one of Italy’s leading footwear manufacturers. Producing almost 20,000 pairs of shoes per day at the foot of the Dolomite Mountains, Grisport is known for its technical walking boots, comfort footwear and safety shoes.
In September 2025, Grisport was awarded Which? Magazine Recommended Brand status for its walking shoe collection, a major endorsement of quality and performance.
Lazy Dogz
Acquired by GRS Footwear in 2021, Lazy Dogz brings colour, comfort and personality to everyday footwear. Known for funky slippers and a growing range of leather boots, shoes and sandals, the brand continues to expand and delight customers looking for comfort with character.
Latest Developments
Warehouse Expansion
In 2018, GRS Footwear completed a major warehouse expansion, adding a second floor and increasing storage capacity by 75%. The development also introduced a design and photography studio, supporting faster product launches and improved content creation.
Integrated Online Ordering
Since 2015, GRS customers have been able to place orders online via a live stock-integrated website, providing real-time availability across tens of thousands of product lines — transforming how many retailers manage stock and replenishment.
Drop Shipping Services
GRS Footwear offers a fully integrated drop-shipping solution for approved multi-channel retailers, allowing partners to expand their footwear range without holding stock. GRS manages storage, fulfilment and delivery directly to the end customer.
Awards & Recognition
GRS brands have received multiple industry accolades, including:
Lunar Shoes
– Ladies Fashion Brand of the Year (2016–2022)
Grisport
– Outdoor Brand of the Year (2016–2021)
– Which? Recommended Brand – Outdoor Shoes (2025)