The increase was largely driven by strong growth across apparel and footwear in the brand’s running and tennis categories.
Running apparel sales were up 15 per cent, while running footwear grew 14 per cent.
ASICS didn’t reveal a percentage growth figure for its tennis footwear and apparel sales – the brand’s main category behind running – saying only sales in this category “achieved double digit growth”.
ASICS Denmark, Sweden, France, Spain, Italy, UK and Poland delivered double digit growth figures.
ASICS Benelux, Germany, Austria and Norway posted single digit growth.
Sales in ASICS’ own retail outlets increased by 37 per cent.
Alistair Cameron, CEO of ASICS Europe, says: “We’re extremely pleased with ASICS’ strong performance in the EMEA region and in particular the increase in apparel sales.
“As a result, we are confident of breaking the $1 billion sales mark in 2015.
“Over the last five years growth in Europe has come from performance categories, but in 2014 sports lifestyle once again became a growth driver in our business, with ASICS Tiger becoming hot.
“Demonstrating our ambition for growth, our new global advertising campaign, which will launch in March, will be ASICS’ largest campaign to date.”
