China sales rose 136% year on year in Brooks Running’s first quarter as the brand posted its strongest quarter in history. North America grew 20% and EMEA rose 30% on a currency neutral basis, the company said. Brooks also rolled out new products that gained quick traction, and changed its leadership and operating structure to support global scaling. The results show the brand is converting product innovation and marketing into faster sales across regions.

Big gains in China power headline growth

Brooks Running opened 2026 with a sharp sales jump in China. The company reported a 136% year‑on‑year increase in the market for the first quarter. That pace outstripped growth in North America and EMEA. North America was up 20% in the quarter. EMEA rose about 30% on a currency neutral basis.

Those figures came as Brooks described the quarter as the brand’s best on record. The firm didn't disclose dollar revenue totals. Instead it released regional growth rates and product performance numbers.

Dan Sheridan, Brooks Running CEO, said the results prove the company’s long‑term strategy is working. He pointed to product launches, local experiences and how the brand shows up for runners worldwide. Sheridan said teams are earning runners’ trust every day.

Product hits drove both footwear and apparel

New models helped push sales higher. Brooks introduced the Glycerin Flex in Q1. The shoe uses an articulated, segmented midsole.

By the end of the quarter, Brooks said the Glycerin Flex represented 4% of global footwear revenue.

Trail running also gained traction. Brooks launched the Cascadia Elite, its most podium‑tested trail racing shoe. Trail styles grew 59% year on year in Q1, the company said.

Existing franchises posted strong gains too. The Glycerin family was Brooks’ top seller, up 34% globally. The Adrenaline GTS, now in its 25th year, rose 31% for the quarter. Performance‑racing lines also advanced: Hyperion Elite jumped 114% year on year, the broader Hyperion family grew 32%, and Hyperion Max was up 64%.

Apparel also contributed. Brooks reported apparel sales rose 33% year over year. The Dash collection and bras such as the Chaser and Convertible drove apparel momentum, the company said. Collaborations that reach beyond running also helped. Limited drops like Brooks x Staple expanded the brand into lifestyle shoppers.

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Market share gains in the US specialty channel

Brooks held the No. 1 spot in performance running footwear at U.S. Specialty retail for the January‑March period, citing Upper Quadrant specialty run market data. At national retail the brand retained roughly 20% market share, a figure it has held for 11 consecutive quarters, the company said.

Brooks’ core franchises ranked as three of the top five styles in Q1 and made up more than 12% of performance running footwear sales in national retail channels. In Germany and France, Brooks outpaced the market on a rolling year basis, delivering 24% and 15% growth respectively.

Organisation changes to support scale

Alongside product and sales updates, Brooks said it evolved its leadership and operating model in the quarter. The company framed the changes as a means to strengthen long‑term enterprise vision and local execution as it scales worldwide. Brooks didn't release details of executive moves or structural shifts beyond that description.

The company’s public comments emphasised both global reach and local focus. Brooks tied the organisational changes to faster regional execution and to the ability to introduce innovation and experiences more broadly.

The firm pointed to a mix of product novelty and expanded brand presence. The Glycerin Flex and Cascadia Elite were singled out for creating new buyer interest. Legacy models kept selling well. That mix helped Brooks win market share in specialty retail while also expanding appeal in lifestyle channels.

Marketing and community outreach also played a role. Brooks said its "Let’s Run There" brand platform and athlete performances helped reach more runners and communities. One example in the quarter was an athlete personal best noted by the company, which it used as proof of product performance.

Brooks’ quarter shows higher growth outside its traditional North American base. China’s 136% gain stands out. So does the combination of footwear and apparel strength. Apparel rising 33% suggests Brooks is broadening revenue streams beyond shoes.

Market share data in U.S. Specialty retail supports a view that Brooks is holding pricing and distribution advantages in that channel. The company’s leading positions in core styles are keeping shelf space and consumer demand aligned. The rapid uptake of Glycerin Flex, reaching 4% of footwear revenue in a single quarter, shows new product can scale quickly when marketing and distribution line up.

For retailers, the mix matters. Trail styles grew strongly. Racing and stability families also gained. Buyers will likely keep shelf space for both innovation launches and proven franchises. For investors, regional diversification is shaping the growth story. Gains in Europe and China mean Brooks is less dependent on one market than a few years ago.

Brooks didn't publish overall revenue or profit figures for the quarter. That limits how precisely outsiders can judge margins and cash flow. The company released growth rates and unit performance instead. That gives a clear sense of momentum but not of absolute scale.

Still, the pattern of strong product launches, category share gains and double‑digit growth across regions gives a concrete picture of where sales are expanding. The combination of footwear innovation and apparel expansion is visible in the numbers the company released.

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Dan Sheridan, Brooks Running CEO, said the record quarter proves the company’s long‑term strategy is resonating with runners worldwide.

This article was created with AI assistance.