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#Retail & Brands

Adidas achieves strong start to 2025 with double-digit growth across all markets

Sportswear giant adidas has reported a significantly better-than-expected performance for the first quarter of 2025, reflecting strong momentum across both lifestyle and performance categories. The company posted a 13% increase in currency-neutral revenues, driven by 17% growth in the adidas brand and broad-based double-digit gains across markets, sales channels, and product segments.

Revenues rose nearly €700 million year-over-year to €6.15 billion, supported by robust sell-through rates, an expanding wholesale presence, and renewed demand across adidas' global direct-to-consumer operations. Operating profit surged by 82% to €610 million, pushing the operating margin to 9.9%, up 3.8 percentage points compared to Q1 2024. Net income from continuing operations more than doubled to €436 million.

"Double-digit growth across all markets and channels in today’s volatile environment shows the strength of our brand," said adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden. "The €610 million operating profit and 9.9% margin prove the great potential of our company."

Footwear drives growth across segments

Footwear was once again the main growth engine, with a 17% increase, led by high-performing franchises in Originals, Running, Sportswear, Basketball, and Outdoor. Lifestyle demand remained strong, driven by renewed consumer interest in silhouettes like Samba, SL72, Campus, and retro styles including Superstar and Adiracer. Meanwhile, performance running saw continued acceleration, including the successful launch of the Adizero Adios Pro 4 and Evo SL.

Collaborations with high-profile names such as Bad Bunny, Pharrell Williams, Bape, and Sporty & Rich, as well as activations at Paris Fashion Week and global sporting events, further amplified adidas’ visibility and appeal in key consumer segments.

All markets and channels contribute to momentum

Sales increased across all major markets: Latin America (+26%), Emerging Markets (+23%), Europe, Greater China, and Japan/Korea (each +13–14%), with North America posting 3% growth, which would have reached 13% excluding the phased-out Yeezy business.

The adidas brand showed double-digit growth in both wholesale and own retail, while e-commerce grew 18% excluding Yeezy, highlighting sustained momentum in digital.

Investment in brand and innovation

adidas increased its marketing spend by 14% to support high-profile campaigns such as You Got This and The Original, as well as new product launches and the debut of its Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 partnership. Gross margin improved to 52.1%, supported by lower product and freight costs and reduced discounting.

Despite increased investments, adidas achieved better overhead efficiency, with operating expenses growing at a slower pace than revenue—contributing to significant bottom-line growth.

Tariff uncertainty clouds full-year outlook

While reaffirming its full-year forecast, adidas cautioned that geopolitical and macroeconomic risks—particularly the threat of increased U.S. tariffs on footwear and apparel—could weigh on results. Gulden noted that adidas is not able to produce most of its products in the U.S., leaving the company exposed to higher import duties that may eventually lead to price increases.

“Although we had already reduced exports from China to the U.S. to a minimum, we are still exposed to very high tariffs,” Gulden said. “We will try to navigate this uncertainty in the most pragmatic and agile way possible.”

 

Full-year outlook

Despite uncertainties, adidas expects to grow currency-neutral sales at a high-single-digit rate in 2025 and forecasts operating profit of €1.7 to €1.8 billion, supported by continued brand strength, a broader product range, and improved retailer relationships.

With no further Yeezy sales planned in 2025, adidas is positioning itself to gain market share through its core brand and performance, proving that strong fundamentals and global brand equity can still drive growth—even in turbulent times.



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#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

adidas finishes successful year with better-than-expected fourth quarter results

adidas today announced preliminary results for the fourth quarter of 2024. In Q4, currency-neutral revenues increased 19%. In euro terms, the company’s revenues grew 24% to € 5,965 million (2023: € 4,812 million). Excluding Yeezy sales in both years, currency-neutral revenues increased 18%. The company’s gross margin increased 5.2 percentage points to 49.8% (2023: 44.6%). Operating profit reached € 57 million in the quarter (2023: operating loss of € 377 million).

#Retail & Brands

Arthur Hoeld, Executive Board Member for global sales, to step down from the Executive Board of Adidas - Mathieu Sidokpohou appointed as successor

Arthur Hoeld, Executive Board member responsible for Global Sales, has informed adidas AG’s Supervisory Board that he will not extend his Executive Board mandate beyond March 31, 2026. The Supervisory Board has accepted his decision and both parties mutually agreed on the early termination of his appointment as an Executive Board member with effect from the end of October 31, 2024.

#Retail & Brands

adidas celebrates 75 years of innovation and sports history

The year 2024 is a special one for sporting goods manufacturer adidas: on August 18, the Herzogenaurach-based company celebrates its 75th anniversary. With great sporting events such as the Olympic Games in Paris, the European Football Championships in Germany and the Copa America in the US, the 2024 year of sports provides a perfect setting for the anniversary.

#Retail & Brands

adidas reports strong Q2 growth with double-digit sales increase

Adidas has announced a robust second quarter, showcasing significant growth and strong brand momentum. The company achieved an 11% increase in currency-neutral sales, driven by a remarkable 16% growth in the Adidas brand. This growth was consistent across all channels and markets, highlighting the brand's expanding influence and appeal.

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#Recycling / Circular Economy

Recover™ secures multi-year recycled cotton agreement with H&M

Recover™ has signed a multi-year agreement with H&M to support the integration of its recycled cotton fiber, RCotton, for use in H&M’s products. Since early 2024, H&M and Recover™ have collaborated on product development, which now enables scaled commercial introduction of Recover™ mechanically recycled cotton into H&M’s collections.

#Sustainability

GORE-TEX® KIDSWEAR launches innovative membership scheme for kids’ jackets

With its revolutionary new membership model, GORE-TEX® Kidswear now offers families a simple, flexible and sustainable way of kitting out their children in top-quality jackets. It is aimed at the parents of children aged between five and ten and kicks off with a choice of functional winter jackets.

#Sustainability

H&M Foundation funds pioneering initiative to build the factories of the future

The H&M Foundation is committing SEK 53 million (approx. EUR 5 million) towards Future Forward Factories, a five-year initiative led by Fashion for Good, to address fashion’s most polluting stage: tier 2 textile processing.

#Natural Fibers

Better Cotton Initiative marks World Cotton Day with launch of innovative product label

The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) has launched an innovative product label for the fashion and textile sectors which allows retailer and brand members to provide consumers with greater clarity about the origin and percentage of BCI Cotton in their products.

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#Spinning

First PA66 spinning plant with EvoQuench successfully commissioned

With the successful commissioning of a multi-digit PA66 spinning line for microfiber yarns, Chinese textile company Shandong Nanshan Fashion Technology Co., Ltd. has added yarn production to its textile value chain.

#Knitting & Hosiery

SHIMA SEIKI returns to ShanghaiTex

Leading flat knitting solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, together with its Hong Kong and Chinese market subsidiary SHIMA SEIKI (HONG KONG) LTD., will exhibit at the ShanghaiTex 2025 exhibition (Booth No.: Hall N3, Booth A20) held in Shanghai, China this month. This marks the return of SHIMA SEIKI to ShanghaiTex after a 14-year hiatus, its last exhibit at the show having been in 2011.

#Research & Development

Fraunhofer CCPE presents the “Monomaterial Design Set” – Innovative solutions for circular product design

Composite materials made from different types of plastic often extend the lifetime of products but make recycling more difficult in the circular economy. That is why Fraunhofer CCPE has developed the “Monomaterial Design Set”. This new approach helps to reduce the variety of plastics used in durable products and offers circular solutions for designers and product developers.

#Man-Made Fibers

arena introduces renewable LYCRA® EcoMade fiber in its latest swimwear collection

Italian swimwear specialist arena has unveiled a new collection that brings sustainability and performance even closer together. Launched on December 4, the line features swimsuits made from recycled nylon and renewable LYCRA® EcoMade fiber — the first time the bio-based spandex has been used commercially in swimwear.

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