Ritter Sport: double digit growth

For the fourth year running chocolate manufacturers Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co KG, Waldenbuch, have reported record-breaking results. Sales in 2004 were up 14% on 2003, growing from €263 m to € 300m.
Growth was mainly driven by sales of Ritter Sport chocolate on markets abroad (+20%). Accordingly, the percentage of revenue generated by sales abroad has increased, up from less than 20% in 2000 to 30%.
Even on the difficult and aggressive German market Ritter Sport sales grew 10%; the new product Schokowürfel - assorted, individually-wrapped cubes of chocolate sold in bags - emerged as a major driving force. An increase in the price of several important ingredients - such as hazelnuts or cocoa butter - did however impinge on earnings.