Stride Rite in Deal to Make Shoes for Levi

Stride Rite Corp. said it signed a licensing agreement with San Francisco-based Levi Strauss & Co. to develop a line of shoes using the jeans maker’s brand name. The announcement marks the second time in almost two years that Stride Rite has agreed to make footwear under another company’s name in an effort to boost sluggish sales and its stock price. Under the agreement, Stride Rite will begin shipping the new line of Levi’s brand casual and sport shoes, hikers and boots in July 1998. Stride Rite’s sales have fallen an average of almost 5% in each of the last five years.