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Barefoot shoes from Dießen: health innovation on Lake Ammersee!
District Administrator Eichinger visits SOLE RUNNER® in Dießen: pioneer for barefoot shoes and digitalization in the Landsberg am Lech district.
Barefoot shoes from Dießen: health innovation on Lake Ammersee!
Dießen am Ammersee is not only known for its picturesque landscapes, but also for innovative companies that specialize in health and technology. One such success story is that of SOLE RUNNER®, which is considered a pioneer in the field of barefoot shoes. On July 22, 2025, District Administrator Thomas Eichinger visited the company and recognized the impressive achievements of founder Thorsten Ludwig.
Sole Runner has achieved a lot since the brand was founded in 2010. The first German barefoot shoes are developed here and exported to numerous European countries, including Denmark, Estonia, France, the United Kingdom, Austria, Switzerland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Their shoes, which are ergonomically designed and certified by the Institute for Health and Ergonomics e.V., stand out not only because of their high level of comfort, but also because of the environmentally conscious concept behind their production. The local connection to Dießen and the region remains of central importance for the company, as landkreis-landsberg.de emphasizes.
A digital champion
The award of SOLE RUNNER® as “Digital Champion” in Bavarian retail in 2020 is another highlight. Thorsten Ludwig himself launched Europe's first barefoot shoe online shop in 2006. In times when shopping behavior has changed due to Corona, Ludwig has focused on digitalization in order to meet the challenges of today. These include projects such as the implementation of PlentyMarkets, a multichannel sales expansion and current projects to analyze the potential for instant payment, which are to be implemented in collaboration with ibi research and the Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Augsburg. The role of artificial intelligence within the company is also becoming increasingly important, so this technology is being used in various areas such as customer communication, social media and even to automate processes.
Buyers are increasingly attaching importance to environmental and climate issues, which is also influencing online retail. In view of the current economic challenges - such as war, inflation and interest rate developments - there is a trend towards increased thrift in the industry. This is leading to an increase in bankruptcies among well-known retail chains, underlining the importance of small and medium-sized businesses to the region's economic stability. Here too, the district administrator emphasizes how important these companies are for the social and economic development of the region.
A workshop for the future
In order to promote the exchange about digital topics and the challenges that come with digitalization, a workshop on AI for companies will take place on October 29, 2025 in collaboration with the Technology Transfer Center at Augsburg University of Applied Sciences. Anyone interested can find further information on tha.de or on the district office's LinkedIn page.
The commitment of SOLE RUNNER® shows how small companies can survive in today's world with a spirit of innovation and a clear focus on health and environmental awareness. It becomes clear here that the Ammersee location has much more to offer than just nature - namely also real economic magnets that think and act in a future-oriented manner.
For more information about SOLE RUNNER® products, visit sole-runner.com.
With a strong focus on digitalization and a clear green commitment, SOLE RUNNER® shows how you can connect the present and the future - and that makes the company a real pioneer in the region.