Canadian Down Jacket Veteran Buys U.S. Rights to Brazil's Jelly Shoe Brand Melissa

A company that built its name on down jackets and snow boots is now taking charge of selling jelly sandals. Pajar Canada has announced the acquisition of Grendene Global Brands USA — the U.S. parent company of Brazilian footwear brand Melissa — for $3.6 million. The deal marks the first time this 63-year-old Canadian company, rooted in cold-weather apparel, has taken full control of a brand synonymous with summer, beaches, and plastic-chic style.

This isn't actually the first time the two companies have worked together. Back in June 2025, Grendene had already approached Pajar to hand over exclusive North American distribution rights for six brands — Ipanema, Cartago, Zaxy, Rider, Azaleia, and Copacabana. That agreement also included Melissa, but was limited to Canada at the time. This latest acquisition brings the U.S. market into the fold as well, with Pajar now taking full charge of distribution and commercial operations for Melissa and Mini Melissa across the United States.

Pajar Canada President Michel Golbert said in a statement: "We are extremely proud to welcome Melissa into the Pajar family. Melissa is one of the most creative and instantly recognizable footwear brands in the world, and it's an honor to earn Grendene's trust to represent and manage the Melissa and Mini Melissa business in the U.S."

For Pajar, this deal is about more than just adding another brand to its portfolio — it fills a gap in the half of the year the company has historically struggled with. Pajar's product lineup has long been concentrated in fall and winter, so bringing Melissa on board instantly plugs the hole in its spring and summer offerings. This isn't Pajar's first expansion move either — two years ago, the company acquired Canadian snow boot brand Cougar.

On Grendene's side, the company was founded in 1971 and produces nearly a million pairs of shoes annually, with a sales network spanning more than 100 countries. Pajar, meanwhile, is a fifth-generation family business, run by CEO Jacques Golbert alongside his two sons, President Michael and Vice President David. In a sense, this deal brings together two family businesses that both pride themselves on playing the long game, stacking their respective legacies even higher.

Following the deal, details on Melissa's future U.S. pricing, retail distribution, and launch timeline have not yet been announced.