Lindt & Sprüngli grows twice as fast as the markets in a very challenging market environment

Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG performed strongly with consolidated annual sales of CHF 2.49 billion in a challenging economic environment. Its growth rate again outstripped that of the chocolate market as a whole with further significant market share gains. In a very difficult market environment, the remarkable organic growth of 6% was mainly achieved by an impressive presence at the point of sale as well as by successful innovations. In this respect, the highly competitive Swiss domestic market deserves special mention: a constant gain of market shares was reported month on month in 2011. The highest market share in the company’s history was in fact achieved in the pralinés segment. Especially pleasing is the fact that Lindt & Sprüngli was able to make important sales and market share progress in its main markets. LINDT and GHIRARDELLI in the USA as well as LINDT in France and Germany are therefore the strongest growing brands in the premium chocolate segment. The export markets and Duty Free business were adversely affected by the strong Swiss franc. Big investments were made again at all our production sites in the year 2011 and new projects were launched, e.g. in Aachen, Germany, where work began last autumn on a large-scale extension of the existing plant with the construction of a new logistics center.