{
  "id": 2061186,
  "title": "Business: Back to growth with shoes: How the Ergobag manufacturer is getting back on track with a bang",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/handel-affenzahn-statt-pinqponq-wie-der-ergobag-macher-mit-schuhen",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-20T02:01:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/handel-konsumgueter/handel-wie-der-ergobag-macher-mit-schuhen-zurueck-zu-wachstum-kommt/100244989.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "Handel takes precedence over \"Pinqponq\" as Ergobag-maker Fond Of shifts focus to shoes and sleep sacks. The Cologne-based company, known for the Ergobag and Satch school backpack brands, is restructuring itself following the imminent sale of the lifestyle brand Pinqponq and workforce reductions. The company aims to expand into new categories, with early numbers offering hope. However, on the playground, the once-disruptive Ergobag must now fiercely compete with established players. In a few weeks, when the new schoolchildren are handed their Ergobag backpacks, Pinqponq may already be absent from Fond Of's brand roster. The trademarked \"two dots\" brand is on the verge of being sold. Oliver Burger, one of the three co-CEOs of Fond Of, shares that they are in advanced discussions with potential buyers for Pinqponq. Burger confirms that end-June saw the news that Fond Of wouldn't continue to develop the brand. Now, the specifics of the sale plans are emerging. The interested buyers, all hailing from the adult or lifestyle segment, believe they could continue the brand more successfully than Fond Of could.",
  "summary": "Fond Of divests lifestyle brand Pinqponq and focuses on families. Sales rise for the first time in four years - but there is strong competition in school backpacks.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}