ADIDAS ORDER BACKLOGS (CURRENCY-NEUTRAL)1)
Development by product category and region in %
| Europe | North- America |
Asia | Total | |
| Footwear | 14 | (5) | 29 | 13 |
| Apparel | 20 | 4 |
30 | 20 |
| Total2) | 18 | (2) | 28 | 17 |
1) At year-end, change year-over-year.
2) Includes hardware backlogs.
ADIDAS ORDER BACKLOGS (IN €)1)
Development by product category and region in %
| Europe | North- America |
Asia | Total | |
| Footwear |
11 | (14) | 22 | 8 |
| Apparel |
17 | (6) | 23 | 15 |
| Total2) | 15 |
(11) |
22 |
12 |
1) At year-end, change year-over-year.
2) Includes hardware backlogs.
|
ADIDAS ORDER BACKLOGS (CURRENCY-NEUTRAL)1) Development by quarter in % |
|
 |
|
| 1) | Change year-over-year |
ADIDAS GROUP SALES TO EXCEED ECONOMIC GROWTH RATES
Based on our strength in innovation, operational execution and
regional diversification, we are confident that the Group’s net
sales increase in 2008 will again exceed growth rates of the
global economy. We also expect Group sales growth to be at
least in line with the overall development of the sporting goods
industry. Sales in Asia and Latin America are expected
to grow
at double-digit rates due to our strong brand recognition and
growing distribution infrastructure. This increase
is forecasted
to exceed both economic and industry growth rates. Mid- to
high-single-digit growth rates are expected in Europe, positively
impacted by the UEFA EURO 2008™. This expectation
exceeds
projected growth rates for both the economy and the
industry in this region.
Sales in N orth America, however, are
projected to decline
modestly as a result
of the challenging
market environment
and intensified retail competition. This
development is likely to be in line with sector development in
the region.
HIGH-SINGLE-DIGIT SALES INCREASE EXPECTED AT BRAND
ADIDAS
We project high-single-digit currency-neutral sales
growth for brand adidas in 2008. Both the adidas Sport
Performance and adidas Sport Style divisions are forecasted
to grow. In the Sport Performance division, we expect football
to be one of the fastest-growing category in 2008. As Official
Sponsor of the UEFA EURO 2008™, adidas will benefit from
this event in terms of additional sales of football products.
In addition, we expect
strong improvements in the Sport
Performance running, training and basketball categories,
supported
by a compelling pipeline of product launches.
Strong order backlogs and positive retailer and trade show
feedback as well as expected further
own-retail expansion,
for which order backlogs are not included in the order book,
support our ambitious growth expectations
for 2008.
ADIDAS BACKLOGS GROW STRONGLY
Backlogs for the adidas
brand at the end of 2007 increased 17 % versus the prior year
on a currency-neutral basis. This improvement was supported
by adidas’
strength in all major categories. Order backlogs in
Europe were positively impacted by orders for UEFA EURO
2008™ related products. In euro terms, adidas backlogs grew
12 %. Footwear backlogs increased 13 % in currency-neutral
terms (+ 8 % in euros). Double-digit growth in both Asia and
Europe more than offset a decline in North America. Apparel
backlogs grew 20 % on a currency-neutral basis (+ 15 % in
euros),
driven by strong double-digit increases in Asia and
Europe. Hardware backlogs grew at a double-digit rate due to
increases in Asia and Europe.
