Gregory receives 2020 outdoor sports industry performance award by NPD Group

The inaugural award acknowledges the fastest-growing brands of 2020 across major outdoor categories.

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH (March 16, 2021) – Gregory, a global leader in the pack space for more than four decades, was awarded an inaugural Outdoor Sports Industry Performance Award by the NPD Group. The award acknowledges the fastest-growing brands of 2020 across major outdoor categories in the U.S.   

Gregory was acknowledged as the fastest growing brand in the Accessories category and was among seven outdoor brands to receive the prestigious award. *The Accessories category includes all technical and lifestyle backpacks, duffel bags, and various other pack and bag product categories, as well as sunglasses.  

The outdoor market generated $6.1 billion in U.S. retail sales in 2020, according to NPD. During the pandemic, consumers turned to the outdoors as a safe way to be active and spend time with their friends and family. As a result; camping, hiking, fishing and other outdoor activities experienced a spike in participation and gear sales. NPD reports a 36% increase in camping gear sales, and 19% increase in water sports gear sales - among additional areas of the market. 

“We are thrilled to see more people getting outside, and gearing up with Gregory,” says John Sears, Vice President of Gregory. “2020 brought unprecedented change to the outdoor industry. Though there is still a lot of work to be done as we recover from the pandemic, we are grateful to have experienced a gain in market share and strong sales performance in 2020.  As we head into 2021, we’re looking forward to continuing to serve our consumers - our core outdoor community and newcomers - with packs they can trust for every adventure.” 

 Recipients of the award were recognized as the top performing brands of 2020 in the U.S. Outdoor Industry, based on dollar sales growth versus the prior year.  Seven brands in the outdoor space received the award in the categories of accessories, apparel, footwear, equipment accessories, camping, water sports and snow equipment. 

For more information about The NPD Group and its 2020 Outdoor Sports Industry Performance Award, visit www.NPD.com. 

For more information about Gregory and its collection of award-winning backpacks and adventure travel pieces, visit www.gregorypacks.com.

*Source: The NPD Group/ Retail Tracking Service, Outdoor Specialty and Sport Specialty E-commerce Channels, Dollar Sales, Jan.-Dec. 2020 vs. 2019. Accessories do not include luggage or kid carriers. Among brands that comprise the top 80% of supercategory/category dollar volume.

About Gregory Mountain Products

For more than 40-years, Gregory Mountain Products has been the leader in expedition, backpacking, daypacks, and travel gear. World-renowned for fit, durability, and performance in all of its products, Gregory has won awards for its pack designs from such diverse media outlets as Outside Magazine, Backpacker, National Geographic, Popular Science and Men’s Journal. Responsible for many industry firsts in backpacking fit and design, the Gregory research and design team continues to lead the way in innovative backpack technology and performance.