Brooks: The Running Shoe Warren Buffett Chose
Brooks breaks its all-time record — the story of 25 consecutive years of growth.
Among the rising powers shaking the terrain of the global sportswear market, one brand is writing overwhelming records with singular quiet. Founded in Philadelphia in 1914, acquired by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway in 2006, and now extending an astonishing record of 25 consecutive years of growth (14% CAGR): Brooks.
"Never flashy or loud —
but always hanging on the wall
of the neighborhood running specialty store."
This icon of steadfast trust recently stood on the Paris Fashion Week stage, and is seizing the global market while pouring out all-time-record results. The last to enter the fashion channel, yet armed with the most solid performance credentials of all — here's an analysis of Brooks's brand growth strategy.
Storm Growth, Proven in Numbers
The Q1 results announced May 1, 2026 (US time) marked the strongest quarter in Brooks history.
US Dominance
11 consecutive quarters holding the No. 1 share of the US specialty retail performance running footwear market — with national retail share approaching 20%.
Global, All-Front Explosion
Balanced growth worldwide: North America (+20%), Europe and the Middle East & Africa (+30%).
The China Market Charge
Greater China revenue grew a staggering 245% across 2025, then kept climbing at an astonishing 136% year over year in Q1 2026. Brooks was also the No. 1 international brand on the feet of sub-3 finishers at the Shanghai Marathon.
The Most Cautious Reverse Run
If Salomon and HOKA chose the path of winning fashion channels first and then expanding into running, Brooks is walking exactly the opposite road.
At Paris Fashion Week in 2025, Brooks finally unveiled a lifestyle footwear collection through collaborations with streetwear legend Jeff Staple and RSVP Gallery. From a brand that spent 25 years insisting on a position "for runners only," the move sent a shock through the market.
Not "a fashion brand making running shoes" — but "the No. 1 brand real runners wear, starting fashion."
As ASICS Sportstyle proved, fashion expansion mounted on overwhelming, already-secured performance credentials delivers a weighty authenticity to consumers.
The Global Lifestyle Evolution
To extend its growth momentum into fashion and culture, Brooks launched its global campaign 'Shine Under Pressure' in April 2026.
At its center stands Cynthia Erivo — star of the film Wicked and a Tony Award winner — as ambassador. The reason for choosing her isn't simple fame. She finished the 2022 London Marathon in 3 hours 35 minutes, and is still training toward a 3:15 finish — a 'real runner.' Even in selecting ambassadors, Brooks holds rigorously to one criterion — 'authenticity about running' — keeping its core values unshaken.
Not Competition — Market Expansion
The space Nike left open is being filled simultaneously by On, HOKA, Salomon, ASICS, and Brooks — and all of them are posting record results. This isn't five brands playing a zero-sum game. It means the entire performance running shoe category's pie is growing.
Within this heated category, Brooks focused rigorously on 'the product.' While Nike rose and fell with trendy models like the Air Max, Brooks's 'Ghost' line hasn't surrendered its seat as America's bestselling running shoe in over thirteen years.
Freed from quarterly short-term earnings pressure by the solid backing of Berkshire Hathaway, Brooks spent 25 years steadfastly focused on "a simple business: making one thing — running shoes — exceptionally well." That is the real reason behind the reverse-run legend Brooks is writing in 2026.
