Dive Brief:
- Brooks Running in Q1 recorded a 23% jump in global growth year over year, stating it was the strongest quarter in the brand’s history. The privately held company did not provide exact figures.
- North American sales increased 20% from the year-ago quarter. Sales surged 136% in China, and the company saw 30% currency-neutral growth in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
- Apparel sales rose by a third year over year, according to a company press release.
Dive Insight:
Brooks Running’s growth is continuing apace.
The private company is coming off a year that saw a 16% increase in global revenue, and its ninth consecutive year of gains.
The activewear brand attributed its Q1 growth in part to apparel sales and a “fresh new look” in 2026. That includes strong sales for its Dash collection, Chaser Padded Bra and Convertible Bra. The retailer said the milestone signals increasing consumer demand for the brand’s clothing as it invests in “head-to-toe” product offerings.
“Across product, experiences, and how we show up for the sport globally, our teams are executing at the highest level and earning runners’ trust every day. Our record quarter is proof our long-term strategy is resonating,” CEO Dan Sheridan said in a statement.
Brooks Running recently reworked its executive leadership team. In March, the brand announced a series of C-suite appointments, including Carson Caprara’s promotion to chief product officer and Mike Billish’s promotion to the newly created position of senior vice president and general manager of the Americas. The company also expanded the role of its chief marketing officer, Melanie Allen.
As Brooks Running shows growth, another major activewear brand has been sluggish lately. At the end of March, Nike reported flat year-over-year revenues for Q3 at about $11.3 billion. While the Nike brand reported a 1% bump in revenue to $11 billion, Converse’s revenue plummeted 35% to $264 million.
Meanwhile, competitor Adidas is on the upswing. Last month, the company reported a 7% increase in Q1 revenue to 6.6 billion euros (roughly $7.7 billion at the time). While its North American sales rose by a mere 1%, sales in Greater China grew 10% year over year.
