Market Trends of Europe Athletic Footwear Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the Europe Athletic Footwear Market according to our research experts:
Participation in Sports and Outdoor Activities
Rapidly spreading awareness about health, fitness, and sporting events are fuelling the demand for comfortable, innovative, and affordable athletic footwear in Europe. Some of the growing health concerns such as obesity and cardiovascular diseases are pushing people to participate in sports activities such as Yoga, Gym, Running, Trekking, and other sports activities. For instance, according to a WHO (World Health Organization) study issued in May 2022 on obesity, 59% of adults and nearly one-third of children (29% of boys and 27% of girls) in the European Region are overweight or obese. Except for the Americas, the European Region has the highest obesity rate among adults. As a result, individuals are incorporating outdoor activities into their daily routines.
Further, involvement in sports and fitness is expanding regardless the age, which is anticipated to drive the sales growth of athletic footwear in the forecast period. For instance, as per the data from Eurostat, more than one-fifth (20.8%) of the EU population was 65 or older in 2021. The expanding older population in the European Union is predicted to drive the growth in the running/jogging shoe category because the most preferred form of exercise by elderly people is jogging and brisk walking.
United Kingdom is the Largest Market
Demand for athletic footwear in the United Kingdom is primarily attributed to the high consumer spending on personal well-being and prevalent participation in outdoor sports as a part of a healthy lifestyle. For instance, the statistics revealed by the U.K. government's sports department show that 61.4% of people in England aged 16 and over were physically active from November 2020 to November 2021. Further, the country exhibits a large number of fitness centers, sports clubs, and gyms to cater to high consumer interest in physical fitness. The IHRSA (The Global Health and Fitness Association) report 2021, reveals that there are more than 7,000 health and fitness clubs in the United Kingdom.
Leading brands in the country include ASICS, Adidas, Puma, and Nike which offer a diverse range of creative and personalized items such as sustainable sports footwear and gender-neutral designs that appeal to the tastes of people of all ages, including children.
