Asics Europe sales up 16 percent

Sportswear and footwear brand Asics Europe has delivered an overall net sales growth of 16 percent across its Europe, the Middle East and Africa region in 2015.

Its sales increase is Asics highest growth rate in years and is up from 13 percent in 2014. The results, which has seen the brand’s sales more than doubled in the last five years, are largely due to the growth in its running, tennis, and an acceleration of its Asics Tiger lifestyle category, which relaunched last year.

The sportswear brand has reported “above-market growth” in its running category, up 17 percent overall, which has been boosted by a 19 percent growth in women’s footwear, which is in line with the NPD Sports Tracking data confirming Asics is the fastest growing brand amongst female runners.

In tennis, Asics achieved a 26 percent growth in footwear sales and a 12 percent growth in apparel, and currently the brand is number one in performance tennis footwear in Germany, France, Spain and Italy. Tennis is a strategic category for the brand and it has recently added a host of tennis players to its roster to boost its reach including resigning British number one Johanna Konta, and adding David Goffin from Belgium and Julia Goerges from Germany.

Asics Europe sales have more than doubled in the last five years

Its rugby apparel also delivered a strong performance during 2015, achieving triple digit sales growth, helped by the South African and Australian rugby teams wearing Asics rugby jerseys at The Rugby World Cup.

The key Asics Europe, the Middle East and Africa markets that contributed to the sales success included South Africa with a triple-digit increase, alongside Sweden, Norway, Denmark, France, Spain, Austria, Poland, Benelux and Russia who all recorded strong double-digit sales figures. The UK and Germany delivered solid single-digit growth, while sales in Asics own retail stores increased by 26 percent.

Asics Europe chief executive officer, Alistair Cameron, said: “2015 has been an outstanding year for Asics, and our 16 percent growth means we have now more than doubled our business over the last five years.

“In 2016 we will look to consolidate on this year’s successes and build our business in the training category and with younger audiences, both of which are booming across the EMEA region. Our recently launched fuzeX footwear and apparel collection combines performance with style, and is set to be a huge hit with younger runners.”

Image: Asics