Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG
EQS-Adhoc: Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG: Sales Report 2014
EQS Group-Ad-hoc: Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG / Key word(s):
Final Results
Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG: Sales Report 2014
13.01.2015 / 07:00
Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 KR.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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MEDIA RELEASE
Sales Report 2014
- 2014: significant sales growth in all markets
- Substantial market share gains
- Organic growth of the Lindt & Sprüngli Group: +9.8%*
- Group sales in CHF, including acquisition of Russell Stover/Whitman's:
3.39 billion (+17.4%)**
- Expected organic increase of the EBIT margin* within the target range
of 20 to 40 basis points
* excluding the acquisition of Russell Stover/Whitman's
**including the acquisition of Russell Stover/Whitman's (September-December
2014)
Kilchberg, January 13, 2015 - Lindt & Sprüngli has increased its sales
growth once again, achieving substantial market share gains in all major
markets. This growth is once more primarily based on higher volumes. With
the successful first-time integration of Russell Stover/Whitman's from
September 2014, the Group's sales passed the three billion Swiss franc mark
by a considerable amount for the first time.
The highlights of an eventful 2014 for the Lindt & Sprüngli Group include
the announcement of a joint venture in the retail sector in Brazil, the
opening of the "Swiss Chocolate Adventure" theme world at the Swiss Museum
of Transport in Lucerne by the LINDT Chocolate Competence Foundation, the
opening of the highest-situated Chocolate Shop on the Jungfraujoch, and the
acquisition of Russell Stover/Whitman's in the USA. These activities took
place in a persistently sluggish European economic climate, coupled with
slightly improved consumer behavior in North America. Rising rates for
relevant raw materials and tough price competition were major challenges.
Thanks to its uncompromising commitment to premium quality, efficient cost
management, and numerous product innovations, the Group again grew much
more quickly than the overall chocolate markets.
Excluding the effects of the acquisition, the Group's organic growth in
local currencies reached +9.8%, by far exceeding the strategic growth
target of 6-8%. The weaker parities of EUR, CAD, and AUD contrasted with a
stable US dollar and slightly stronger British currency. The negative
impact of currencies on consolidated Group sales expressed in Swiss francs
amounted to 1.1 percentage points. Including the first-time consolidation
of Russell Stover/Whitman's from September 2014, Group sales reached CHF
3.39 billion, an increase of +17.4% against the previous year.
The European market segment achieved organic growth in local currencies of
+6.5%, a positive performance to which all countries contributed. The major
markets France and Germany reported particularly impressive progress. Due
to a wide variety of innovations in both the seasonal and permanent sectors
and the ever increasing popularity of the LINDT brand with consumers, Lindt
& Sprüngli achieved excellent double-digit growth in the UK. Excluding the
sales of Russell Stover/Whitman's, the NAFTA region grew by an outstanding
+14.3% against the previous year. All three US subsidiaries achieved
double-digit sales growth thanks to the launch of numerous new products and
the increasing interest of retailers and consumers in quality products from
Lindt & Sprüngli. The rest of the world segment grew by +13.9%. Impressive
progress was again recorded at LINDT in Australia and in worldwide
distributor and Duty-Free business. The new subsidiaries opened in Japan,
Russia, and China over the past few years also achieved high growth rates
at lower absolute levels.
As part of its ongoing expansion into new markets, the "LINDT Global
Retail" Division is playing an increasingly important role. Last year, the
worldwide amount of own stores grew by twenty-nine units. The sales
generated by the Lindt & Sprüngli shop-network amount to around 10% of
overall Group sales and make a significant contribution to sustainable
strengthening and further consolidation of the LINDT brand image and
recognition.
Outlook: operating profit (EBIT)
Excluding the acquisition of Russell Stover/Whitman's, the Lindt & Sprüngli
Group expects to improve the EBIT margin in 2014 against the previous year
within the range of the medium-term target of 20 to 40 basis points.
Including Russell Stover/Whitman's and the one-off transaction costs, the
EBIT margin is expected to be about the same as the previous year.
About Lindt & Sprüngli: As the global leader in the premium chocolate
sector, Lindt & Sprüngli looks back on a long standing tradition of 170
years which takes its origins in Zurich, Switzerland. Today, quality
chocolate products by Lindt & Sprüngli are made at 12 own production sites
in Europe (key brands: LINDT, CAFFAREL, HOFBAUER) and the USA (key brands:
LINDT, GHIRARDELLI, RUSSELL STOVER, WHITMAN'S). They are distributed by
numerous subsidiary companies and branch offices, and also via a
comprehensive network of independent distributors all over the world. With
some 12,000 employees, the Lindt & Sprüngli Group reported sales worth 3.39
billion Swiss francs in 2014.
Contact Media Relations Contact Investor Relations
Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG
Seestrasse 204, 8802 Kilchberg Seestrasse 204, 8802 Kilchberg
phone +41 44 716 24 56/57/86 phone +41 44 716 25 37
Mediarelations-in@lindt.com investorrelations-in@lindt.com
More details will be provided when the full annual financial statement is
published: Tuesday, March 10, 2015
End of ad hoc announcement
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13.01.2015 News transmitted by EQS Schweiz AG. www.eqs.com - news
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Language: English
Company: Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG
Seestrasse 204
8802 Kilchberg
Switzerland
Phone: + 41 44 716 25 37
Fax: + 41 44 716 26 60
E-mail: zdrozd@lindt.com
Internet: www.lindt.com
ISIN: CH0010570759, CH0010570767
Valor: 1057075, 1057076
Listed: Foreign Exchange(s) SIX
End of News EQS Group News-Service
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