Modella makes another acquisition, this time it’s the Wynsors footwear chain

Modella Capital is fast becoming one of the most acquisitive businesses on the UK high street and the latest retailer to join its portfolio is footwear chain Wynsors World of Shoes.

The company hadn’t made a formal announcement as we published but a spate of Companies House announcements came through about individuals ceasing to be “a person with significant control” of Wynsors’ parent company or becoming newly appointed directors. Yet the biggest clue that came early evening on Monday was the one that said “Appointment of Modella Capital Directors Limited as a director on 29 November 2025”.

There’s no hint of how much it might have paid for the business.

The story had originally been broken by Sky News on Monday morning, which had said the investment firm was targeting a takeover of the privately owned footwear retailer and was in “advanced talks”.

Wynsors trades from around 50 standalone shops across the north of England and Sky had said Modella was “the likeliest buyer” of the business, with expectations of a deal before the end of the year. Monday’s later developments tore that timeline up completely.

Modella was recently in the news as the buyer of Claire’s UK business. It also recently bought the non-travel locations of WH Smith (now renamed TG Jones) and owns Hobbycraft and The Original Factory Shop too. It had earlier hoped to add Poundland to its portfolio but missed out on that one.

Wynsors had been looking to sell for around two months and accountancy firm RSM had been hired explore interest from prospective bidders, Sky News said.

The chain trades from around 50 standalone stores and 40 concessions. It sells brands including Adidas, Skechers, Hush Puppies, Clarks, Nike, Kickers and more. And although its sells footwear for women, men and children, it focuses particularly on school shoes.