Coming out of 2021 where its currency-neutral sales in North America increased 17 percent to the equivalent of $5.57 billion, Adidas is moving forward with plans to introduce new products on a weekly basis and open 20 “halo” stores across the continent to elevate the Three Stripes’ customer experience. The company is currently forecasting a mid- to high-teens growth rate in North America in 2022 as it further takes its Originals business into the premium space and introduces inventive basketball styles in Q4/22. Also, Adidas has become the first major player in the industry to adopt TrusTrace Certified Material Compliance (see In The News story) after providing early input on its development.

In Q4/21, the brand’s North American sales declined 3.7 percent in C$ to $1.42 billion. Overall Direct-To-Consumer sales were up 19 percent from Q4/19 to represent 38 of total period revenues of €5,137 million. Full-price sales rose strongly in Adidas’ digital channel, but the segment suffered a 2 percent sales decline.

Meanwhile, Adidas realized a 16 percent C$ rise in overall 2021 revenues to €21,234 million ($23.3 billion) as COVID-19 restrictions, supply chain constraints and a challenging environment in China impacted the topline by approximately €1.5 billion ($1.64 billion). Sales in “non-disrupted” markets rose 23 percent last year, the company said. Sales of running, training and lifestyle products grew at double-digit rates with soccer and outdoor revenues also rising.