Back in February, the North American flagship store of Chinese sportswear maker Anta opened its doors on a ritzy boulevard in Beverly Hills, California, next to household names such as Lululemon and Wilson.
At the grand opening, attendees munched on matcha popcorn inside, while eager basketball fans formed long queues outside, hoping to meet NBA stars Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson. The latter had just signed a lifetime deal with the brand.
The hoopla seemed to herald a new force in athleticwear bursting onto the scene. But while it has lacked brand awareness among Western consumers to date, the 35-year-old Anta Sports Products has been making a strong run over several years to become the world’s third largest sportswear maker, trailing only Nike and Adidas in revenue.
“Opening a large flagship in Beverly Hills is a statement of intent. Anta wants to be seen not just as a strong Chinese brand, but as a serious global player in one of the world’s most premium retail locations,” said Rufio Zhu, vice president for digital at global sports marketing agency IMG.
Anta’s sales have been boosted by an acquisition strategy that has rolled up brands that are often better known globally and serve the premium end of the market. In 2025, revenue increased 13.3% to reach a record USD 11.8 billion. While its core mass-market label achieved only a moderate 3.7% growth rate, its diverse portfolio grew by 59.2%.
