Press Release

ROCKFORD, Mich., Mar 21, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE:WWW) is pleased to announce that its Merrell Performance Footwear brand, respected for its design innovation and distinctive outdoor, athletic-outdoor and casual footwear, was awarded Brand of the Year by Footwear Plus magazine. The Plus Awards are the only footwear design excellence awards nominated and voted on exclusively by footwear retailers. In addition to Brand of the Year, Merrell won an award for its innovative use of Gore-Tex(TM) fabrics in its new Orbit Moc. Merrell accepted the awards at a gala event sponsored by Footwear Plus and W.L. Gore & Associates.

"We are honored to receive this award," said Jacques Lavertue, President of Merrell Footwear. "It is especially gratifying that this award is granted based on feedback from retailers, and we thank them for their vote of confidence. Retailers provide Merrell the crucial connection to our consumers and play a vital role in showcasing our brand, its features and benefits. This award belongs to the entire Merrell team who work hard to design and market performance oriented shoes for consumers who play in the back country as well as in urban landscapes -- and for their dedication, I thank them."

Merrell developed a new product category in the footwear industry with the introduction of AfterSport shoes, featuring the widely popular Merrell Jungle Mocs and Slides. This footwear was designed to be worn after a day of hiking, biking, skiing, or running when comfort and slip-on features are a must. The AfterSport shoes combine many of the performance features of Merrell's technical footwear products with the comfort and fit of a slip-on. Consumers around the world love the mocs and slides, and they remain some of the most influential products in the footwear industry today.

"Merrell means a fresh, innovative approach to footwear," stated Warren Harshbarger, Men's Footwear Product Manager at REI. "From AfterSport to Multi-Sport and the new Topo series, they are the number one footwear brand at REI in both dollars and pairs. The Merrell team keeps moving the needle forward, and we continue to experience great growth in 2002 as consumers are attracted to the brand's unique styling and performance features."

"Merrell has been a strong leader in the footwear category for the past five years," said Greg Dutter, Associate Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Footwear Plus. "Merrell pioneered the AfterSport category while staying true to its core outdoor consumer. This was not an easy task. This creativity and commitment to design innovation set them apart. Congratulations to the entire team."

With a commitment to service and product excellence, Wolverine World Wide, Inc. is one of the world's leading marketers of branded casual, active lifestyle, work, outdoor sport and uniform footwear and slippers. The Company's portfolio of highly recognized brands includes: Bates(R), Hush Puppies(R), HYTEST(R), Merrell(R) and Wolverine(R). The Company also markets footwear under the following popular licensed brands: CAT(R), Harley-Davidson(R), Stanley(R) and Turtle Fur(R). The Company's products are carried by leading retailers in the U.S. and are distributed internationally in over 140 countries.

For more information, please visit our website at wwww.wolverineworldwide.com.

CONTACT:          Wolverine World Wide, Inc., Rockford
                  Thomas Mundt, 616/866-5589

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