After a record 2022, Brooks Running carried the momentum into the first quarter of 2023, reporting 20 percent year-over-year sales growth globally, including a record 32-percent increase in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.
In the first quarter, Brooks saw strong brand demand across all retail channels as the company overcame pandemic supply chain and inventory hurdles and brought innovation to market through new products and experiences. By the end of the quarter, the company was once again the leading U.S. retail brand in adult running shoes, holding a 23 percent market share, according to Circana’s Retail Tracking Service (U.S. dollar sales, Q1 2023). The Ghost and Adrenaline GTS were the two best-selling franchise lines, according to the same source, with a combined share of more than 13 percent of adult performance running. Brooks also saw strong momentum in the U.S. specialty run channel, with first-quarter sales up 42 percent year-over-year. In direct e-commerce, Brooks’ global sales grew 33 percent year-over-year in the first quarter.
Brooks sees product innovation for runners as particularly important, such as advances in nitrogen-filled midsoles now offered in its cushioning, speed and trail shoes. In January, Brooks introduced the Hyperion Max in its speed category, which features nitrogen-infused DNA Flash and Rapid Roll Rocker technology and plans to introduce enhanced cushioning and additional rocker technology in new models later this year. The cushioning innovation has also been well received by runners and walkers, according to Brooks: Sales of the Glycerin franchise were up 200 percent year-over-year. The Glycerin GTS 20 took over the market leadership in adult stability running shoes in the upper price segment ($150 and up) at U.S. retailers in March. In April, the Glycerin 20 was named a finalist in the “Best Shoes for Walking” category by Shape magazine.
Investing in the community
In 2022, Brooks invested $5.4 million in community outreach initiatives, with a focus on supporting youth running and partners that promote health and wellness. These include establishing the Brooks Future Run, which aims to reach one million young runners in the U.S. over the next five years. Parkrun, the largest free weekly community event for runners and walkers and Brooks’ new global partner, set a new participation record in April with more than 320,000 runners and walkers worldwide. Brooks and Parkrun are working together to support the continued growth of the global running community.
In April, Brooks also released its annual Corporate Responsibility Performance Report, which outlines the brand’s progress on its corporate responsibility commitments.
