While the bootmaker Dr Martens was reporting lower profits last week to little fanfare one of its leading suppliers, Coats, posted an upbeat bulletin predicting a full-year result in line with analysts’ expectations.
Coats mainly puts thread in a fifth of the world’s garments and materials for Dr Martens, Nike and Adidas shoes and trainers. It also makes what it calls performance materials for protective clothing and car engine hoses, car seats, tampons and tea bags.
Many of its end products make it vulnerable to fluctuations in consumer spending but since Covid the company has gained from the trend while working from home for more casual wear or, as Coats calls it, athleisure.
Rajiv Sharma, the chief executive, said: “We focus on the most
