Lekkerland : considerable growth in sales and volumes in 2005

Lekkerland GmbH & Co KG, Frechen,is expanding rapidly in Europe. This year will see the concern entering the Slovenian and Portuguese markets, with the Baltic states soon to follow, as Lekkerland s CEO Berner explained in an interview with SG. Lekkerland achieved growth of 8.8% up to € 9.085 m (2004: € 8.354 m) during the business year 2005. EBITDA was 3% up on the previous year to € 160m. Operating profits rose 3.6% and totalled € 115 m. Annual surplus amounted to € 90m, 11.9% above last year s figure of € 80.4m.



For the first time the concern published results under IFRS principles and as well as for Germany included figures for subsidiaries in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Lekkerland acquired a wholesaler in Romania in December 2005 and took over Polish company MILO (100%) at the beginning of 2006. With sales totalling approximately € 710 m Poland meanwhile ranks as the fourth most significant region for the Lekkerland group.MILO and the Luxembourgian joint venture Conway Fixmer, founded in 2005, do not feature in the 2005 consolidated results. The number of employees in Europe, following acquisitions, totals 7,400.


In western Europe operations in the Benelux states generated most revenue, and sales grew 6.3% to total € 2.85 bn. Branches in other countries also performed well. Highest growth was reported for Conway Spain, with sales up 15.9% to € 229 m. In Spain the concern was able to reach important new clients, especially in the food service sector. Austria contributed €77m to overall sales, Switzerland € 200 m (2.2%).



In eastern Europe sales in the Czech Republic were satisfactory, at € 114 m (+10.7%). Slovakian operations are still being developed and sales here totalled € 4m. In Hungary sales slid slightly down to € 13 m.
Lekkerland supplies 130,700 service stations, kiosks, c-stores, fast food chains, tobacconists, beverage stores, department stores, food retailers, bakeries and cantines with a broad range of confectionery, beverages, snacks, c-items, ice cream, frozen foods, fresh produce, tobacco items, phone cards and various non-food articles.