ROCKFORD, Mich., Mar 14, 2003 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ — Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE: WWW) today announced that its Merrell(R) and Wolverine(R) brands received several top awards for Excellence in Design in an annual poll of footwear retailers administered by Footwear Plus Magazine. These Plus Awards were presented during a ceremony held in conjunction with the World Shoe Association tradeshow in Las Vegas during February 2003.
Merrell received two Plus Awards, including being named Brand of the Year for Excellence in Design for 2002. This is the second consecutive year in which Merrell earned the top spot. Merrell was also recognized as the top brand in the Outdoor category for 2002. Finally, Wolverine took first place for Excellence in Design in the Work Boot category for a fourth consecutive year.
'The entire Wolverine World Wide team is proud to receive these prestigious awards from the footwear retail community,' stated Timothy J. O'Donovan, President and CEO of Wolverine World Wide. 'To achieve top honors, in three extremely competitive categories, reflects the commitment our brands have made to product innovation and design excellence. I want to thank the retailers who participated in this Footwear Plus survey for recognizing the Merrell and Wolverine brand teams for the contribution each has made to the footwear industry.'
With a commitment to service and product excellence, Wolverine World Wide, Inc. is one of the world's leading marketers of branded casual, active lifestyle, work, outdoor sport and uniform footwear and slippers. The Company's portfolio of highly recognized brands includes: Bates(R), Hush Puppies(R), Merrell(R) and Wolverine(R). The Company also markets footwear under popular licensed brands including CAT(R), Harley-Davidson(R) and Stanley(R). The Company's products are carried by leading retailers in the U.S. and are distributed internationally in over 140 countries. Please visit our website, www.wolverineworldwide.com , for additional information.
CONTACT: Thomas Mundt of Wolverine World Wide, Inc., +1-616-866-5589
