A+W shoes is a joint venture of the Ara group, and the Wortmann group, which are two of the leading European shoe production and distribution companies. The company aims to open the market for comfort shoes in the lower price range, which has developed into one of the most interesting parts of the shoe business. This segment of the shoe industry is expected to grow due to the increased expectancy of life.

Ara and Wortmann each are regarded as the undisputed market leaders in their business segments. Ara specializing in comfort shoes, and Wortmann in fashionable and popular priced womens shoes. The new product range, which is referred to as Jana, combines the strongest elements of Ara and Wortmann. Collection production and technic are managed in Langenfeld, whereas the distribution is controlled in Detmold.

Both partners are convinced that this form of team work is trend-setting for the future. For the first time in the history of the German shoes industry two companies have combined their respective core competences in order to reach success with each other and not against eachoter.