Lida Shoe Factory
Belarusian state-owned footwear manufacturer based in Lida, producing leather and textile shoes for domestic and export markets.
Last updated September 28, 2026
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Overview
Lida Shoe Factory (ОАО «Лидская обувная фабрика») is a Belarusian light-industry enterprise located in the city of Lida, Grodno Region. Its origins trace to 1927–1928, when the Kushelevichi brothers, chemical engineers, began producing rubber goods in Lida. In 1929 the enterprise attracted investment from trader Solomon Melup and partners, who registered the joint-stock rubber company "Ardal" (Przemysl gumowy «Ardal» S.A.). Despite the global economic crisis, Melup acquired the bankrupt Polish market leader "PePeGe" in 1931, and the combined PePeGe–Ardal company captured a quarter of the Polish rubber-products market. By the 1930s the factory employed around 1,000 workers (1935) and was one of the largest rubber-goods producers in the Polish Republic, including rubber footwear. After Lida became part of the Byelorussian SSR in 1939, the factory was nationalized, employing up to 1,140 workers and producing 1,110 pairs of shoes daily. It was partially destroyed during the Great Patriotic War and restored in 1945–1946. A rubber shop opened in 1949, a third men's footwear shop in 1952, and a seventh women's footwear shop in 1957. The factory was renamed in 1977 in honor of the 60th anniversary of the Great October Revolution. In 1991 it became a leased enterprise, and on 10 February 1992 it joined the Belarusian concern for production and sale of light-industry goods, Bellegprom. From 1994 it was a people's enterprise, and from 2000 an open joint-stock company with all shares held by workers. In 2006 the factory was nationalized: the state provided an interest-free loan and entered the charter fund for the loan amount, equivalent to 97.49% of shares; by 2010 the state's share reached 98.87%. The factory's production capacity is 1.5 million pairs of shoes per year, though capacity utilization was low (21.9% in 2018). In 2018 it produced 338,900 pairs of shoes: 126,900 pairs of men's shoes, 159,600 pairs of women's shoes, and 52,400 pairs of children's shoes. 96.3% of output was sold domestically and 3.7% exported. Today the factory specializes in footwear made from textile materials (including linen) and genuine leather. Its official website, lidashoes.by, operates an online store and catalog, listing products such as women's home shoes, women's shoes, women's boots, and men's low shoes, with prices in Belarusian rubles.
History
The enterprise that became Lida Shoe Factory began in 1927–1928, when the Kushelevichi brothers, chemical engineers, started producing rubber goods in Lida. In 1929 trader Solomon Melup and partners invested in the business and registered the joint-stock rubber company "Ardal" (Przemysl gumowy «Ardal» S.A.). The global economic crisis hit the industry hard, but in 1931 Melup bought the bankrupt Polish market leader "PePeGe" (Polski przemysl gumowy), and the combined PePeGe–Ardal company took a quarter of the Polish rubber-products market. During the 1930s the factory employed several hundred workers (1,000 in 1935) and became one of the largest producers of rubber goods, including rubber footwear, in the Polish Republic. After Lida was incorporated into the Byelorussian SSR in 1939, the factory was nationalized; employment reached 1,140 and daily output was 1,110 pairs of shoes. The factory was partially destroyed during the Great Patriotic War and restored in 1945–1946. A rubber shop was commissioned in 1949, a third men's footwear shop in 1952, and a seventh women's footwear shop in 1957. Organizationally, until 1953 the factory belonged to the Belarusian trust of the leather and footwear industry "Belkozhobuvtrest"; in 1953–1957 to the Main Directorate of the Leather and Footwear Industry "Belglavkozhobuvprom"; in 1957–1965 it was subordinate to the Light Industry Directorate of the Council of the National Economy of the BSSR; and from 1965 to the Ministry of Light Industry of the BSSR. In 1977 the factory was renamed in honor of the 60th anniversary of the Great October Revolution. In 1991 it became a leased enterprise. On 10 February 1992 it joined the Belarusian concern for the production and sale of light-industry goods, Bellegprom. From 1994 it was a people's enterprise, and from 2000 an open joint-stock company with all shares held by workers. In 2006 the factory was nationalized: the state provided an interest-free loan and entered the charter fund for the loan amount, equivalent to 97.49% of shares. By 2010 the state's share was brought to 98.87%. The factory's production capacity is 1.5 million pairs of shoes per year, but capacity was underutilized (21.9% in 2018). Production areas are being reduced for more efficient use of the site. In 2018 the enterprise produced 338,900 pairs of shoes: 126,900 pairs of men's shoes, 159,600 pairs of women's shoes, and 52,400 pairs of children's shoes. 96.3% of products were sold on the domestic market and 3.7% on the external market. Currently the factory specializes in footwear made from textile materials (including linen) and genuine leather.
- 2018
Factory produces 338,900 pairs of shoes; capacity utilization 21.9%.
- 2010
State share increased to 98.87%.
- 2006
Factory nationalized: state provides interest-free loan and acquires 97.49% of shares.
- 2000
Factory becomes an open joint-stock company with all shares held by workers.
- 1994
Factory becomes a people's enterprise.
- 1992
On 10 February, factory joins the Bellegprom concern.
- 1991
Factory becomes a leased enterprise.
- 1977
Factory renamed in honor of the 60th anniversary of the Great October Revolution.
- 1957
Seventh women's footwear shop commissioned.
- 1952
Third men's footwear shop commissioned.
Products and positioning
State-owned Belarusian footwear manufacturer specializing in leather and textile (including linen) shoes, primarily serving the domestic market with limited exports.
Women's home shoes model H142
Price 36.96 BYN; sizes 225–265.
Women's shoes model эр17-3
Price 47.04 BYN; sizes 38–40.
Women's boots model 42223-1м
Price 84.10 BYN; sizes 35–41.
Men's low shoes model МК58Ф-1
Price 120.96 BYN; sizes 39–46.
Men's low shoes model ЛМ27
Price 76.46 BYN; sizes 255–290; multiple colors.
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