On February 6, Brooks Running, the century-old American running brand under Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, released its financial report for the 2024 fiscal year ending December 30. The brand achieved a 9% year-over-year increase in global sales, marking a record high, with growth across all channels and regional markets.
Brooks highlighted that this achievement marks its eighth consecutive year of growth, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13%.
In the 2024 fiscal year, Brooks’ global expansion drove strong performance in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) markets. In the adult high-performance running shoe segment, Brooks’ growth rate in France and Germany was twice and three times the overall market growth, respectively.
In the Asia-Pacific region, Brooks saw remarkable success in China, the world’s second-largest running market, with a 228% year-over-year sales increase.
For the third consecutive year, Brooks ranked No.1 in the U.S. retail market for adult high-performance running shoes. In Q4, the brand maintained its leading position in the specialized retail channel, the most discerning high-performance running segment in the U.S., with a 19% year-over-year growth.
Meanwhile, global participation in running continues to rise—running participation in the U.S. increased by 8% in 2024. Strava, the global fitness app, also reported that running is the fastest-growing social sport.
Dan Sheridan, CEO of Brooks Running, stated: “The high-performance running category is thriving, and we continue to welcome new runners to both the sport and our brand. Our team has never been better at creating top-tier running gear, delivering exceptional experiences, and connecting with runners and athletes.”
Brooks attributed its 2024 fiscal year growth largely to core product innovation and new launches.
For the first time since 2021, all of Brooks’ core footwear franchises underwent updates, driving a 12% increase in full-price sales, with strong consumer response to new product lines. The Ghost and Adrenaline GTS models led sales, accounting for over 10% of the U.S. high-performance running shoe retail market in 2024.
The Ghost Max model saw a 203% increase in global revenue in its first full year, significantly contributing to overall performance.
The Hyperion Speed series performed well across all regions and was widely worn by competitive runners. Notably, in China—where elite runners hold significant influence—the brand’s speed styles sales increased by 41%, with Hyperion Elite up 37% and Hyperion Max surging 103%.
By strengthening both online and offline presence, Brooks attracted a large number of new customers worldwide in 2024.
The brand launched its global marketing platform, “Let’s Run There,” and in Q4, collaborated with actor Jeremy Renner on a campaign video that won two Gold and two Silver Clio Awards, a prestigious advertising accolade.
Brooks also expanded its audience through key brand collaborations, including a limited-edition Cascadia 18 sneaker co-designed with U.S. streetwear brand Extra Butter and becoming the official on-ice performance partner of the Seattle Kraken, an NHL team
In the digital space, Brooks’ loyalty program “Brooks Run Club” surpassed 1 million members in North America in 2024. In Q4, the program expanded to the EMEA region and launched in the UK.
On Strava, as of August 5, 2024, Brooks’ running clubs in the U.S. and Europe grew by 165% and 346%, respectively.
| Source: Official press release
| Image Credit: Brand website
| Editor: LeZhi
