Bumper demand for trainers and running shoes boosted German sportswear group Puma’s first quarter sales by 14% €2.2bn (£2bn).
Helped by promotions with players such as Manchester City’s Jack Grealish footwear revenues jump almost 29% with basketball boots also flying off the shelves.
Arne Freundt, chief executive, said it had been a strong start to 2023 in Europe, though North American sales fell due to high stock levels while margins were affected by transport costs and currency movements.
Puma lost its chief executive at the end of 2022 as Bjorn Gulden was nabbed by rival and his former employer Adidas to sort out its troubles.
Replacement Freundt said second-quarter sales would grow by low to mid-single-digit sales but be affected again by high stock levels and the uncertain macroeconomic backdrop.