• Lindt & Sprüngli grows twice as fast as the markets in a very challenging market environment
• Strategic target reached with 6% organic growth
• Consolidated sales in Swiss francs: 2.49 billion
• Massive negative currency influence of 9.5%
• Continued market share gains in nearly all markets
• Positive expectations regarding development of operating profit (EBIT)

Kilchberg, January 16, 2012 – 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. The LINDT bear, which was launched globally in November 2011, became an immediate success and celebrated a husky premiere with an impressive appearance on the market. Consequently, the company is an important step closer to its strategic aim of developing a global icon for the important Christmas period similar to the GOLD BUNNY at Easter.

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.

However, market growth in southern countries (Italy, Spain and partly also in Australia) slowed down considerably. This is to be ascribed partly to the economic background and partly to the extremely high temperatures in spring as well as late autumn, which lasted to some extent until the month of December. The export markets and Duty Free business were adversely affected by the strong Swiss franc. The positive development of LINDT in Hong Kong, on the other hand, is very pleasing and builds a sound foundation for the further development of the Chinese market, which will be pushed henceforth in the context of the geographical expansion of the Group. The newly established ”International Retail“ division contributed already 10% to the growth of the Group in the past year and shows promising potential for the future.

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. As part of the Group’s expansion in new markets, another subsidiary was founded in Cape Town, South Africa, in the spring of 2011.


Outlook: Operating Profit (EBIT)

Thanks to the achieved organic growth of 6%, an optimized degree of capacity utilization, a good procurement policy as well as ongoing efficiency progresses, the Group expects good operating profit with a margin increase at the upper end of the 20 to 40 basis points range announced last March.