Vans Establishes Canadian Office and Team

Cypress, CA (April 28, 2009) – Vans® announced today the formation of a dedicated Vans team in Canada that will assume the responsibility of sell-in and distribution of Vans’  product lines for 2010 and beyond.  Vans’ Canadian business will be led by Michel Bilodeau, Director, Sales and Marketing, who is overseeing Vans’ transition of its Canadian operations from distributor Sports Odyssee, Vans’ sole distributor in Canada since 1995 to Vans, a division of VF Outdoor (Canada), Inc.  Bilodeau has directed Sports Odyssee’s Vans operations for the past 12 years.

“Establishing Vans’ Canadian office is part of our global strategy,” said Stephen Murray, President, VF Action Sports Americas.  “Vans and Sports Odyssee have enjoyed a particularly strong and successful relationship over the last 15 years.  The ownership team at Sports Odyssee has been an integral part of Vans success in Canada. We wish them continued success with their ongoing business and thank them for having been a loyal partner.”

“I’m thrilled and honored by the opportunity of opening Vans’ Canadian office,” said Michel Bilodeau, Director, sales and Marketing. “While Vans’ Canadian business is continuing to grow, we’ll benefit from increased connectivity to our global footwear and apparel teams in California.”

“We are thankful of having had the opportunity of establishing the brand in Canada alongside the dedicated management team from Vans,” said Claude Roy, President and Owner of Sports Odyssee. “We will make this transition as seamless as possible and its business as usual for us with Vans until the end of calendar 2009.”

The new Canadian management team will be in place in May 2009 and offices will be located in Ville St-Laurent, Quebec.  More information about the new office and team will be announced at a later date, but all current sales agents remain in place which will result in stability and maintained relationships with partner retailers across Canada.

About Vans
Vans, the leader in action sports footwear and apparel for the youth market, is a brand of VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC).  Vans collections, which include active and performance footwear, apparel and accessories, snowboard boots and bindings and the Pro-tec line of protective gear, are sold in the United States through more than 180 company owned stores and factory outlets as well as independent retailers.  Internationally, Vans sells its goods in approximately 50 countries through a network of distributors, sales agents and foreign offices.  Vans supports and promotes the action sports lifestyle through such events and destinations as, the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing™, The Vans Downtown Showdown and the Vans Warped Tour®.

For more information on Vans, please visit www.vans.com. ”