Key Takeaways
- • Scholl's Wellness Company, a Yellow Wood Partners portfolio company, acquired VKTRY Gear, a performance insoles manufacturer utilizing aerospace-grade carbon fiber technology, in a strategic add-on acquisition to strengthen its athletic footwear segment.
- • VKTRY generates revenue primarily through direct-to-consumer and e-commerce channels with 1.6 million social media followers and serves over 600 professional and collegiate athletic programs, including endorsements from All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor.
- • The global shoe insoles market is projected to grow from $6.2 billion in 2024 to $9.7 billion by 2033 at a 5.1% CAGR, with carbon fiber insoles expanding at 6.2% CAGR, positioning the sports and athletic segment as a high-growth subsector.
- • VKTRY's product portfolio spans over-the-counter Gold and Silver VK insoles calibrated across five flexibility degrees, premium Platinum custom-orthotic options, and recovery footwear, supported by independent clinical research from the Korey Stringer Institute and Harvard Mass General.
- • The acquisition integrates VKTRY's high-growth, viral e-commerce business and hyper-loyal customer base with Dr. Scholl's established brand scale and multi-channel retail presence across mass, drug, food, specialty, and e-commerce channels in over 50 countries.
Summary
Scholl's Wellness Company has acquired VKTRY Gear, a Connecticut-based manufacturer of carbon fiber performance insoles, marking Yellow Wood Partners' latest add-on acquisition within its Dr. Scholl's platform. Founded in 2015 by board-certified pedorthist Matt Arciuolo and his wife Felicia, VKTRY evolved from Arciuolo's work developing carbon fiber prototypes for the USA Olympic Bobsled and Skeleton teams, a project that contributed to the team's 2010 gold medal victory. The company currently operates under CEO Steve Wasik and holds U.S. and international patents for its core technology.
VKTRY's product architecture comprises three tiers: the Gold and Silver VK insoles, engineered with five calibrated flexibility degrees based on athlete weight and sport type; the Platinum VK custom-orthotic option combining personalized fit with the carbon fiber baseplate; and the VKTRY Recovery Clog, an expansion into recovery footwear. The brand has achieved significant professional adoption, serving athletes across more than 600 professional and collegiate programs. Independent validation from the Korey Stringer Institute and Harvard Mass General supports VKTRY's performance claims regarding energy return and lower-leg injury reduction. Notable endorsements include All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor, who wore VKTRY insoles while leading the NFL in rushing yards. The company's direct-to-consumer and e-commerce strategy has generated a social media following of 1.6 million users, establishing a "hyper-loyal customer base" according to Yellow Wood partner Tad Yanagi.
The acquisition aligns with Scholl's Wellness' strategic positioning within a rapidly expanding market. The global shoe insoles market is projected to grow from $6.2 billion in 2024 to $9.7 billion by 2033, representing a 5.1% compound annual growth rate, according to Grand View Research. Carbon fiber insoles represent one of the faster-growing material segments, with an expected 6.2% CAGR through the same period. The sports and athletic sub-segment, where VKTRY competes, continues to outpace the broader market, driven by rising fitness participation and increased consumer focus on injury prevention.
Scholl's Wellness Company, headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, operates the Dr. Scholl's brand founded in 1906, distributing insoles, inserts, skincare, and foot grooming products across mass, drug, food, specialty, and e-commerce channels in over 50 countries. Yellow Wood acquired the Dr. Scholl's brand in the Americas from Bayer AG in 2019 for $585 million and reunited global brand rights under a single owner in 2021 through its acquisition of the Scholl brand from Reckitt Benckiser. Under CEO Meghan Davis, appointed in February 2025, the company seeks to position Dr. Scholl's as "the lead innovator and go-to solution for consumer wellness." Yellow Wood, which invests in consumer brands with EBITDA ranging from $10 million to $50 million, closed its third fund in April 2022 at a $750 million hard cap, oversubscribed with commitments from long-standing limited partners.
VKTRY's product architecture comprises three tiers: the Gold and Silver VK insoles, engineered with five calibrated flexibility degrees based on athlete weight and sport type; the Platinum VK custom-orthotic option combining personalized fit with the carbon fiber baseplate; and the VKTRY Recovery Clog, an expansion into recovery footwear. The brand has achieved significant professional adoption, serving athletes across more than 600 professional and collegiate programs. Independent validation from the Korey Stringer Institute and Harvard Mass General supports VKTRY's performance claims regarding energy return and lower-leg injury reduction. Notable endorsements include All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor, who wore VKTRY insoles while leading the NFL in rushing yards. The company's direct-to-consumer and e-commerce strategy has generated a social media following of 1.6 million users, establishing a "hyper-loyal customer base" according to Yellow Wood partner Tad Yanagi.
The acquisition aligns with Scholl's Wellness' strategic positioning within a rapidly expanding market. The global shoe insoles market is projected to grow from $6.2 billion in 2024 to $9.7 billion by 2033, representing a 5.1% compound annual growth rate, according to Grand View Research. Carbon fiber insoles represent one of the faster-growing material segments, with an expected 6.2% CAGR through the same period. The sports and athletic sub-segment, where VKTRY competes, continues to outpace the broader market, driven by rising fitness participation and increased consumer focus on injury prevention.
Scholl's Wellness Company, headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, operates the Dr. Scholl's brand founded in 1906, distributing insoles, inserts, skincare, and foot grooming products across mass, drug, food, specialty, and e-commerce channels in over 50 countries. Yellow Wood acquired the Dr. Scholl's brand in the Americas from Bayer AG in 2019 for $585 million and reunited global brand rights under a single owner in 2021 through its acquisition of the Scholl brand from Reckitt Benckiser. Under CEO Meghan Davis, appointed in February 2025, the company seeks to position Dr. Scholl's as "the lead innovator and go-to solution for consumer wellness." Yellow Wood, which invests in consumer brands with EBITDA ranging from $10 million to $50 million, closed its third fund in April 2022 at a $750 million hard cap, oversubscribed with commitments from long-standing limited partners.
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