Alpargatas to open 20 Havaianas points in Argentina

Brazilian footwear company Alpargatas is expanding its presence in Argentina by deploying a network of 20 exclusive retail points for its Havaianas brand. The company began rollouts in September and plans to have the locations operational during October, ahead of the 2026/2027 summer season.

Argentina represents the second-largest market by volume for Havaianas in Latin America. The new footprint includes a store at the Alto Palermo shopping center in Buenos Aires alongside branded kiosks in the city of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires province, Tucumán, Córdoba, and Mendoza. Over the full season, Alpargatas expects to surpass 20 exclusive locations.

Juliana Soncini, brand and product director for Latin America at Alpargatas, told iProfesional that the openings operate as franchises managed by local retail groups. Calzados Gunar has served as the exclusive distributor and master franchisee for the brand in Argentina since 2018. Soncini confirmed that all merchandise sold in the country remains imported from Brazil, where Alpargatas runs four factories, with no plans to adjust that sourcing model in the medium term.

Globally, Havaianas operates in over 130 countries, maintains more than 550 stores in Brazil between franchises and company-owned units, and sells over 230 million pairs annually. Traditional flip-flops make up about 80% of total brand volume, including the Tradi model, which turns 65 in 2027, and Top.

Along with retail kiosks, the company launched its Slides line on September 17 in sizes 35 to 46. The Slide Zero debuted at a suggested launch price of 45,999 Argentine pesos, while the Slide Strap arrived at 69,999 Argentine pesos, alongside entry-level brand items priced from 22,000 Argentine pesos. Selected stores will also stock accessories such as bags, pareos, caps, and backpacks. In Brazil, Soncini noted that its Havaianas reCICLO recycling initiative has collected over 450,000 pairs since 2020, representing 160 tons of waste.