The Leder & Schuh Group, one of the largest shoe companies in Europe, employs over 2,321 people in about 206 locations and gains total revenue of 374 million Euros.

In 1872 "D.H. Pollak & Co" settles in Graz and lays the foundation for today's holding company "Leder & Schuh International AG" with its headquarters still at the same premises.

The company opens stores in Prague, Budapest, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Trieste, Meran, and Timișoara and even exports its shoes to Africa, America, Australia and India.

In 1904, shoe production and trade are further expanded, and stores are set up as far afield as Constantinople (Istanbul), Plovdiv, Sofia and Berlin.

By founding the Austrian "Humanic Leder und Schuh AG, Vienna-Graz" a strong sign of life is sent out once again and all efforts are concentrated on a restart in a now "shrunk" Austria.

The consequences of the worldwide economic crisis and incorporation of Austria into Greater Germany imply dramatic difficulties and the end of expansion for the company.

Due to its location near the central station of Graz, the factory is almost completely destroyed by 15th AF / 55th BW air strikes on 15 March 1945.

The reconstruction after World War II is concentrated on the relatively small Austrian market and is finished by 1950. International cooperation with renowned companies like "Calzaturificio di Varese" or "Charles Jourdan" is launched accompanied by the reorganisation of Europe.

At the same time, new production sites are opened in Austria (Deutschlandsberg, Radkersburg, Eibiswald, and Feldbach) and other European countries, such as Switzerland and Spain.

In the same year, Leder & Schuh International AG withdraws from shoe production and wholesale activities, thus making an important decision regarding the reorientation of the company towards retail business.