Lindt and Sprüngli records fresh double-digit annual growth, despite global market challenges
Swiss-headquartered Lindt and Sprüngli has recently posted a double-digit upturn in its annual sales, for the third consecutive year, rising from CHF 4.97 billion to CHF 5.20 bn, reports Neill Barston.
As the company noted, its improved position came despite notable market challenges that has seen a slowdown in the broader chocolate market, with premium brands being generally impacted amid a cost of living criss with consumers facing elevated retail costs.
Net income also showed a notable increase, climbing to CHF 671.4 million (previous year: CHF 569.7 million), resulting in a return on sales of 12.9% (previous year: 11.5%), with the company confirming its Lindor series remained its best performing.
Significantly, the European region segment retained highest sales, posted sales of CHF 2.41 billion (previous year: CHF 2.30 billion). The region grew organically by 9.1%, with double-digit growth in many European markets, including Switzerland, Italy, the UK, and Eastern Europe. The Group also generated solid growth in Germany and France.
In 2023, the “North American” segment increased sales to CHF 2.11 billion (previous year: CHF 2.03 billion), with an organic growth of 11.0%. Lindt & Sprüngli is gradually expanding its presence in the USA, the world’s largest chocolate market. In the USA, the focus remains on the premium segment, which is served by the global brand Lindt and our local premium brands Ghirardelli and Russell Stover. Lindor remains the bestseller. The Lindt and Ghirardelli brands once again recorded double-digit growth rates during the reporting period. Russell Stover, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2023, posted mid-single-digit growth.
Meanwhile, in the “Rest of the World” segment, sales increased to CHF 0.68 billion (previous year: CHF 0.65 billion). Organic growth was 12.9%. Business was particularly strong once again in Japan and Brazil, with Australia maintaining its position as the country with the largest sales revenue in this segment. Following the easing of Covid measures the Chinese economy recovered slowly, nevertheless, our business achieved a high single-digit growth, outperforming the stagnating Chinese chocolate market. The Group remains confident that the Chinese market will continue to develop in the years to come.
For global retail, where Lindt & Sprüngli operates shops and e-shops under the Lindt, Ghirardelli, and Russell Stover brands, made significant gains in the reporting year. Sales in the shops posted double-digit organic growth in all market regions (overall 16.5%). On the one hand, this can be attributed to higher sales by the individual shops while on the other hand, the Group opened new shops in the course of the year. By the end of the year, the Lindt & Sprüngli Group had 523 shops worldwide.