Switzerland: Lindt & Sprungli sees sales up 7% in 2015

Leading chocolate firm Lindt & Sprungli posted organic sales growth of 7% in 2015, with the firm boasting of "another record result" as it released its financial statements for the latest year.

The Swiss confectioner reported that it had achieved consolidated sales of  3.65 billion CHF ($3.66 billion), equating to an increase of 13.5 % in local currencies and 7.9 % in Swiss francs. The company added that  the group’s operating profit (EBIT) rose by 9.4 % to 518.8 million CHF ($519.6 million), and noted that it had increased market share "in all strategically important markets".

"Lindt & Sprüngli managed to achieve this impressive result despite the persistently challenging market environment", the company said in a statement. "This positive trend was supported by all the major markets, as well as the constantly growing contribution from the Global Retail Division. The Group was able to expand its share in all the strategically important markets and thereby strengthen its no. 1 position in the attractive premium chocolate segment. The Lindt & Sprüngli Group continues to grow at a faster pace than the overall chocolate market".

In addition to investments into brand and quality, the firm also announced plans to invest in the expansion of its retail network, new technologies, production sites and in sustainability programmes. It also said that it would open 20-30 new Lindt shops every year to achieve its goal of being the world’s leading retailer of premium chocolate by 2020.

Source: Lindt & Sprungli