Football boot brand Puma hopes for huge sales growth in 2008.

Jean-Francois Palus, Chief Financial Officer of German sportswear group Puma has predicted an increase in sales throughout 2008.

The 2008 footballing calendar has kicked off in Ghana with the African Cup of Nations, to be followed by the 2008 European Football Championships in Austria and Switzerland, before the Beijing Olympics, making 2008 a huge year for sports brands worldwide.

Palus commented: “Puma will use the opportunity of these upcoming sporting events to enhance investments in strengthening its brand. We expect a further increase in our sales and profits in 2008 and we already see positive indications of further growth in our order books.”

Puma is currently sponsoring nine of the 16 teams taking part in the African Nations Cup. The German football boot brand will also sponsor five teams at Euro 2008 and 17 teams will wear Puma kit at the summer Olympics in Beijing.

Their flagship football boot, the V1.08, has also been launched recently to high acclaim, which should put Puma in a good position this year.