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Well-known brand Lululemon just reported better-than-expected first-quarter results, in part due to the brand's successful entry into new categories such as footwear, golf and tennis.

Lululemon launched women's shoes in March. Chief Executive Calvin MacDonald said on a conference call with investors that demand for the new product in the first quarter "far exceeded" the company's expectations.

"We've definitely had a lot more demand than we expected," MacDonald said of the shoe collection, which started with March's Blissfeel running shoes and this week's Restfeel slideshow.

Two other training shoes, Chargefeel and Strongfeel, will be launched this year. While the shoe was first designed for women, the brand plans to launch a line of men's shoes in 2023.

"The initial response to footwear, golf and tennis has generated huge sales, with additional products planned soon," said Cowen Equity analyst John Kernan.

In April, Lululemon announced a plan to expand its menswear business, including adding footwear, as part of a five-year growth strategy to double revenue to $12.5 billion by 2026.

In the three months ended May 1, lululemon's sales rose 31.5% year-on-year to US$1.613 billion, and its net profit rose 30.3% to US$189 million. Calvin McDonald, chief executive of lululemon, said that consumer demand for sportswear is still strong, and lululemon's sales in China have not been hit much in the past two months.

For the full year of 2022, lululemon expects revenue to be between $7.61 billion and $7.71 billion, higher than previously expected.