Kidiliz
France
Kidiliz Group was the name taken in 2016 by the French children's fashion group Groupe Zannier, founded in 1962. After its acquisition by Zhejiang Semir Garment it entered receivership in September 2020 and was liquidated in November 2020.
| Original company | Groupe Zannier, founded 1962 |
|---|---|
| Renamed Kidiliz Group | 2016 |
| Registered office | Paris, France |
| Acquirer | Zhejiang Semir Garment |
| Status | Liquidated, November 2020 |
What was Kidiliz?
Kidiliz Group was a French children's ready-to-wear group, formerly Groupe Zannier. Roger Zannier and Josette Redon founded the original business in 1962 as a knitwear workshop, and it later specialised in children's clothing. The registered head office was in Paris and the administrative seat in Saint-Chamond.
History
The company adopted the Kidiliz Group name in 2016. It was then acquired by Zhejiang Semir Garment, a Chinese children's fashion company, in a sale whose cited sources date from 2018. After the deal Semir was reported to rank second worldwide in children's fashion, behind the American company Carter's.
In September 2020 Kidiliz entered judicial reorganisation because Semir was unwilling to recapitalise the loss-making group during the Covid-19 crisis. In November 2020 the group was liquidated. Seven buyers took over about 500 of its 2,600 employees.
Products and positioning
The group listed about twenty owned and licensed brands, including 3 Pommes, Absorba, Alphabet, Beckaro, Catimini, Chipie, Confetti, Dim, Jean Bourget, Lili Gaufrette, MyfirstDressing and Z. Licensed names included Esprit, G-Star, Paul Smith Junior, Kenzo and Levi's Kids.
Business model and distribution
Like Zannier before it, Kidiliz acted as a portfolio operator: it designed and distributed brands through owned stores, franchise partners, multibrand retailers and licences, rather than manufacturing itself.
Why it matters
Kidiliz is a case study in how a large European childrenswear group can unravel when a new owner withdraws support. Its brands now sit with different owners, for example Catimini and Absorba with IDKIDS.
Frequently asked questions
What happened to Kidiliz?
Kidiliz Group, formerly Groupe Zannier, was acquired by Zhejiang Semir Garment. It entered judicial reorganisation in September 2020 and was liquidated in November 2020.
Which brands belonged to Kidiliz?
The group's brands included Catimini, Absorba, Lili Gaufrette, Chipie, Dim and Z, plus licences such as Kenzo and Levi's Kids.