Bramwell International is a family run business based in the English Lake District. We’re the official distributor of Meindl boots across the UK and Ireland. We’re passionate about spending time in the outdoors and about the high quality footwear that we sell. Here’s our brief history. If you’ve a question about Meindl  – whether you’re a customer or a retailer, there’s nothing we can’t answer. Try us!

A brief history of Bramwell International.

1992

Bramwell International established by father and son, Grant and Alastair Bramwell.  Grant has more than 30 years of experience in the footwear industry with K Shoes.

1993

The company begins distributing Meindl walking boots and shoes throughout the UK.  The distribution of Meindl had lapsed in the early 1990’s and after visiting the Meindl factory in Kirchanschoring, Bavaria Grant and Alastair took on the agency.

1996

The company takes over the distribution of Meindl in Ireland. Meindl had been stocked by The Great Outdoors in Dublin since 1976 and in the 1990’s the outdoor industry developed rapidly in Ireland.  Meindl introduce the popular Burma boot which become established as a flagship hill walking boot in the UK winning many awards.

1998

Nick Bramwell, Alastair’s brother, joins the company as the business grows. Both Alastair and Nick are outdoor enthusiasts having been bought up in the Lake District.

2002

Heather Palmer joins the company as Operations Manager from Field & Trek who were one of the pioneers of outdoor retailing.  Hilda Mathew joins the Bramwell team to look after After Sales.

2004

Jan Speight joins the team, having also previously worked at Field & Trek.  Grant Bramwell retires and Bramwell International is now run by his two sons, Alastair and Nick in the same way that Meindl are run by two brothers Lukas and Lars Meindl, the eleventh generation to run the Meindl business.

2005

Amanda Bainbridge joins as sales representative for Northern England and Northern Wales.  Amanda previously worked in outdoor retail and in addition to sales has expertise in boot fitting and training.

2007

Adele Barrow joins the team as Financial Controller.

2008

Meindl develop their wide fitting Comfort Fit range of boots and shoes which establishes them as a leader in wide fitting footwear in the outdoor market.  This reinforces Meindl’s reputation for Innovation and Quality.

2013

Marina Carmichael joins the team in the Lake District working in sales order processing and with day to day contact with retailers.

2014

Meindl introduce the Bhutan boot as a successor to the highly successful Burma Pro.  The Bhutan quickly establishes its reputation as a classic leather, gore-tex lined hill walking boot which is ideally suited to UK and Irish conditions.

2016

Bramwell International develop the business to serve the outdoor, field sports, forestry and tactical markets with specialist footwear.

2019

A new range of Meindl socks are introduce to the market which complement the footwear and ensure customers can purchase a full Meindl package – sock, footwear and care product.