Munro & Company, Inc., was established in 1972 as the successor to New Hampshire-based Connors & Hoffmann Footwear Company's southern division, consisting of three shoe manufacturing plants, all in Arkansas. As manager of the southern division, Don Munro had set up Lake Catherine Footwear in Hot Springs in 1960. In 1967 he added Addison Shoe Company in Wynne, and in 1967 built Mount Ida Footwear in Mount Ida. These three plants formed the nucleus of Munro & Company. They produced men's and women's leather shoes and boots for the major national retailers.