FDBusiness.com

Despite the challenging underlying economic conditions and increasingly subdued consumer sentiment in some countries, Swiss confectionery group Lindt & Sprüngli has succeeded once again in achieving a substantial increase in its sales, operating profit and net profit, outperforming the trend in all its markets. Group sales rose by 7.3% to SFr2.67 billion (organic growth: 6.8%) and operating profit increased by 10.3% to SFr362.5 million (Eur296 million) with the EBIT margin improving by 40 basis points to 13.6%.

In predominantly flat or slightly declining chocolate markets, all subsidiary companies performed distinctly better than the general market trend, with the exception of Italy and Spain which are particularly hard hit by the present crisis, and won corresponding new market shares. In the shrunken Swiss domestic market, Lindt achieved well above average growth of 2.3%, while exports and the travel retail business were hampered by the continuing strength of the Swiss franc.

For the 2013 financial year, Lindt & Sprüngli is adhering to its long-term objectives with a view to organic growth of 6% to 8% and an increase in its operating profit margin by 20 to 40 basis points.