Umbro year to date sales worldwide were up 4.7%.
The company also reported that pre-season orders for England licensed product is is already ahead of 2004 sales. Umbro's sales expectations for 2006, when the World Cup is scheduled, are in excess of 20% over 2004, which was the previous world cup tournament year.
Umbro's joint venture in China with its Asian licensee, Team & Sports Ltd, sales to date are 63% ahead of 2004 with full year expectations in excess of $30 million. Targets for China are for sales of $100 million.
In the US, sales of footwear in 2005 have tripled to 670,000 pairs primarily through Footlocker.
In 2006, Umbro will launch two new product ranges, “u by Umbro” and “Philip Treacy for Umbro,” aimed at increasing the brand's presence in the sports lifestyle market.
