VF Corporation, the parent company of Vans and Dickies is moving forward with a plan to cut up to 80 jobs at its EMEA headquarters in Stabio, Switzerland.
According to reports, the decision is part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at reducing debt and improving financial stability.
A company spokesperson confirmed that all relevant employees, offices, authorities, and unions have been informed, and that the employee consultation process is now underway in accordance with local labor laws.
The restructuring is tied to VF’s broader Reinvent strategy, which was first outlined during the company’s Investor Day in November 2024.
During that presentation, CEO Bracken Darrell and CFO Paul Vogel emphasized the need for cost reductions.
More details followed in a recent Investor Day event where brand leaders Caroline Brown of The North Face and Sun Choe of Vans discussed future growth plans.
As of December 31, VF Corp. had a workforce of approximately 28,000 employees, reflecting a reduction of 5,000 positions compared to the previous fiscal year.
While the company announced additional layoffs in January, it did not specify the number of jobs affected or the departments involved.
The proposed job cuts in Stabio represent a small percentage of VF’s total EMEA workforce, accounting for around 1% of the 7,500 employees in the region and 6% of the 1,200 employees at the Stabio office.
The impact will be felt across multiple brands, including The North Face, Vans, Timberland, and Napapijri.
VF Corp. has had a presence in Switzerland since relocating its offices to Stabio in 2013. Over the past decade, its workforce in the area has grown from approximately 300 to 1,200 employees.
Despite the restructuring, the company continues to hire, with around 50 open positions in the EMEA region, including 10 in Stabio alone.
In 2024, VF brought on about 130 new employees in Stabio and over 300 across EMEA, not counting hires in retail stores and logistics centers.
Meanwhile, the renovation of the Stabio campus remains on track. The project includes a new 2,500-square-meter VF-owned building, set for completion in fall 2025.
VF Corp. remains focused on building a more sustainable financial structure and believes these organizational changes will provide a stronger foundation for future growth and value creation.