Lindt & Sprüngli with double-digit sales growth

Group sales increased to CHF 4.59 bn (previous year: CHF 4.02 bn), which corresponds to a remarkable growth in Swiss francs of 14.2%. Organic sales growth amounted to 13.3%. According to the company, the difference results from the acquisition of the long-standing retail partner in Italy and a weaker Swiss franc. However, the stronger Euro, British pound as well as the Canadian and Australian dollar overcompensated for the weaker US dollar. The outstanding sales results not only filled the gap caused by the pandemic in 2020, but also clearly exceeded the good result of 2019 – the year before the pandemic.
Despite ongoing pandemic-related restrictions, the global chocolate markets reported overall good growth in 2021. Once again, Lindt & Sprüngli, the world’s leading chocolate manufacturer in the premium segment, benefited from an above-average increase in demand for products of highest quality and was able to significantly increase sales in all countries and channels. Important growth drivers were the ongoing high demand for products for home consumption and a recovery for products for gift-giving occasions. In addition, the trend of double-digit growth in the online business was confirmed. Lindor, the most important product line of the Lindt brand, contributed strongly to the encouraging sales growth of the Group. The successful launch of Lindor Double Chocolate represented a special highlight. The fact that Lindt & Sprüngli is constantly adapting to changing consumer needs was demonstrated by new products such as Excellence Cocoa Pure – a tablet made exclusively from components of the cocoa fruit.
The Europe segment counted an organic growth of 13.8%, with sales totaling CHF 2.33 bn (previous year: CHF 2.01 bn). All markets contributed to this good result. Particularly worth mentioning are the strong-selling countries Germany, Italy, the UK, and Switzerland, all of which recorded double-digit growth. The North America segment recorded organic growth of 10.7% to sales of CHF 1.69 bn (previous year: CHF 1.54 bn). In the US, Lindt & Sprüngli was able to grow faster than the overall market and again increased its market share in the world’s most important chocolate market. The Rest of the World segment achieved the strongest organic sales growth with 19.7%, reaching CHF 570 m (2020: CHF 470 m). The markets of Brazil, China, and Japan reported particularly good growth and continue to promise great sales potential.
Lindt & Sprüngli is confident to achieve the target communicated with the half-year results 2021 of an operating profit margin (EBIT) of around 14% in the financial year 2021. For the financial year 2022, Lindt & Sprüngli is planning to achieve sales growth in line with the unchanged medium-/long-term target of 5-7% p.a. with an operating profit margin of 15%. More details on the full-year results will follow on Tuesday, March 8, 2022.