Brooks Running finished 2024 with record global revenue, up 9% year over year, fueled by growth in every region and channel.
This outcome marked eight consecutive years of growth for the leading run brand, which delivered a 13% compound annual growth rate over that horizon. Global expansion efforts drove strong 2024 results in EMEA, where Brooks grew two and three times the pace of the performance running market growth rates in France and Germany, respectively. In APLA, Brooks grew 228% year over year in China, the second largest running market in the world.
The US-based running shoe brand reached $1billion in sales for the first time in the third quarter, driven by growth in North America, Asia Pacific and European markets.
For the third consecutive year, Brooks maintained its position as the No. 1 adult performance running footwear brand in U.S. national retail. The brand also led the U.S. specialty retail channel throughout Q4, the most discerning channel in performance run, with a 19% year-over-year increase. Participation continues to rise around the world; in 2024, running event participants increased 8% in the U.S., and on the global app Strava, running is considered the fastest-growing social sport.
“The sun is shining on the performance running category, and we continue to welcome new people into the sport and our brand,” said Dan Sheridan, Brooks CEO. “The Brooks team has never been better at crafting best-in-class running gear and experiences and then connecting with runners and active people in their health and wellness journeys.”
Core innovation and product introductions fuel growth
All of Brooks’ core footwear franchises introduced new versions in 2024 for the first time since 2021, driving active (full-price) sales up 12% as consumers reacted favorably to the robust pipeline of fresh product. The Ghost and Adrenaline GTS led sales for the brand and together commanded more than 10% market share in U.S. retail for performance running footwear sold in the year. Ghost Max global revenue increased 203% in the new style’s first full year, helping to drive growth and add dimension to the popular Ghost franchise.
In September, Brooks launched the all-new Glycerin Max with strong adoption from the market globally. On its launch day in China, it was the No. 1 shoe sold on Tmall, China’s largest online retailer. In the U.S. specialty channel, the $200 shoe gained a full point of market share during launch week due to strong adoption by the channel and runners.
Brooks’ Hyperion speed franchise also performed well in all regions with strong adoption amongst competitive runners. In China specifically, where elite runners are highly influential to the broader market, Brooks’ speed styles grew 41% year over year driven by the Hyperion Elite up 37% and Hyperion Max more than doubling, up 103%.
Brand engages new audiences around the world IRL and digitally
In 2024, Brooks launched global brand platform “Let’s Run There,” building on its purpose to inspire people to run their path. The platform evolution reflects consumers’ shifting relationships with running and celebrates a multi-dimensional view of health and wellness. In Q4, Brooks’ “Let’s Run There” video and partnership featuring actor Jeremy Renner won two Gold and two Silver Clio Awards, highly coveted recognition within the advertising space. The campaign also earned recognition in Fast Company’s “2024 Brands That Matter Awards” honoring brands that most effectively and authentically connect with their target consumers.
Fresh partnerships also landed the Brooks brand in front of new audiences in 2024. Brooks launched a collaboration with Extra Butter, the go-to streetwear destination in New York City’s Lower East Side, featuring exclusive designs of the Brooks Cascadia 18 sneakers, and in Seattle where the brand is headquartered, Brooks became the Official Off-Ice Performance Partner of the National Hockey League’s Seattle Kraken. In Q4, Disney announced a multi-year sponsorship naming Brooks the official running shoe of its popular race series.
In the digital space, Brooks Run Club, the brand’s loyalty program, surpassed 1 million members in North America in 2024 and in Q4 extended to the EMEA region with a launch in the U.K. Brooks plans to expand the program to other countries in 2025, starting in Q1. On Strava, Brooks Running Clubs in the U.S. and Europe grew 165% and 346%, respectively, year over year ending August.
Supporting elite athletes and the broader run community
In 2024, Brooks invested more than $6 million in community impact programs supporting more than 800,000 runners globally. These efforts included $4m in gear and funds to community partners like the global community running organization parkrun, as well as $2m to young runners in the U.S. through Brooks’ Future Run program, which aims to expand youth access to the sport.
