Jourdan plans further push into U.S. (Charles Jourdan shoes)

Jourdan plans further push into U.S. PARIS (FNS) -- Although the U.S. represents a 20 percent share of Charles Jourdan's highend women's shoe market, the company plans further growth in its U.S. retail, wholesale, distribution and brand licensing, now that its industrial and management problems appear to have been settled.

In his first press conference since taking over Jourdan together and the Loew chain of department and shoe stores in Switzerland nine years ago, Franz Wassmer, now the only shareholder in the company through his Portland Cement Werke (PCW) group, recently predicted a new licensing agreement with the American Licensing Group will put the U.S. on a par with Japan in terms of licenses within three years' time.

Japan represents about 55 percent of Jourdan's …