MGM, which took over Kayland from Novation in the past year, has developed five styles of soft-heel shoes specifically for the English market. The company has decided to upgrade the Kayland brand, using only Gore-Tex membranes and Vibram outsoles, and to produce the whole collection in Italy or Romania. Some of the styles were previously made in China, where the lower-priced Trezeta collection continues to be manufactured. MGM has signed a sales agency agreement for the U.K. with John Stock for its Kayland and Trezeta brands. Stock, who was formerly an agent for The North Face, will be directly responsible for relations with the retail chains, and he may work with sub-agents for the rest of the market. While looking for the right distribution partners in Germany, MGM is handing over sales of its Trezeta shoes in France to Accedis, a subsidiary of TSL that sells Kamik shoes in the country. Trezeta's previous French agent, Claude Guillemin, is retiring. Another agent, Christian Saubin, will continue to sell Kayland in France.