A family wedding has been among the highlights of an eventful year for a ninth-generation Bolton footwear business, with the bride proudly swapping traditional wedding shoes for a pair of pink boots made by her own family company.
Grubs has had a busy year so far, launching several new products and supporting various local causes.
The company celebrated a family wedding this year as Beth Foster, manager of direct-to-consumer sales and the youngest of three sisters got married in July.
The couple wore Grubs footwear for the wedding photos, with Beth donning a pair of pink Grubs boots.
The Bolton-based company won the SME of the Year award for 2026, presented by the Partnership Manager at GMPLN, which supports businesses and young people of Greater Manchester.
Grubs has a history of supporting local causes and has donated footwear to raise money for Bolton Hospice.
The company also provided footwear to the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team, which has more than 50 volunteers on call around the clock.
Grubs has a museum exhibition dedicated to Foster Footwear, which can be traced back to 1776 making shoes for the local community.
Looking ahead, the company is preparing for new product launches for autumn/winter 2026/2027.
The new products are reportedly receiving positive feedback, and forward orders are said to be in good shape.
Grubs and Muddies are sold in more than 25 countries, including Canada and New Zealand.
Despite its international reach, the company remains family-run, a rarity in an era where businesses are often bought and sold, losing their identity and credibility in the process.
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