Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG
Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG: SEMI-ANNUAL SALES 2014

Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG / Key word(s): Half Year Results

14.07.2014 07:30

Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 KR
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Lindt & Sprüngli 
www.lindt.com 

MEDIA RELEASE

SEMI-ANNUAL SALES 2014

  - First half-year organic sales growth of 9.2% again well above the
    market average

  - Lindt & Sprüngli Group gains market shares in all key markets

  - First half-year Group sales in Swiss francs: 1.2 billion (+6% against
    previous year)

  - Long-term strategic objectives for the whole year confirmed 

Kilchberg, July 14, 2014 - Lindt & Sprüngli has made an excellent start
into the new financial year 2014, ending the first half with above-average
organic growth of 9.2%. This development is well ahead of the main overall
chocolate markets which do not show significant growth. Thanks to the
continuous progress which once again confirms the Lindt & Sprüngli Group's
strong dynamic in its core markets and also the new emerging markets in the
first half of 2014, further market shares were won everywhere.

Despite a slight improvement of the economic situation, consumer sentiment
in some countries, especially in Southern Europe, has not yet recovered
completely. The continuing strong pressure of competition in the retail
trade and the persistent weakness of a number of foreign currencies against
the Swiss franc present another major challenge. Persistently rising prices
for commodities made it necessary for Lindt & Sprüngli, too, to introduce
moderate price adjustments in the first half of the year.

In the first six months of 2014, Group organic growth in local currencies
reached 9.2%. In Swiss franc terms, Group sales rose by 6% to CHF 1.20
billion. The negative currency influence therefore amounts to 3.2
percentage points and is explained primarily by the weakening of the
dollar-based currencies against the Swiss franc compared to the previous
year. The good sales trend is mainly attributable to higher volumes and has
been enhanced by innovative new product launches, the seasonal business and
a product mix which is constantly being optimized.

Lindt & Sprüngli succeeded in achieving above-average organic growth in all
its core markets in Europe as well as in North America and Australia and
gained new market shares everywhere. In North America, the world's biggest
chocolate market, Lindt & Sprüngli with its LINDT and GHIRARDELLI brands
reported double-digit organic growth once again. LINDT also achieved
double-digit growth rates the UK. In Germany, France, and Switzerland,
Lindt & Sprüngli again clearly outperformed the development of the overall
chocolate markets. Italy continues to suffer from subdued consumer
sentiment; this is reflected in particular in the flat trend of business in
the traditional specialty outlets. However, LINDT was able to step up its
sales by an above-average rate in the modern retail channels and won
further market shares here too. Despite the strong franc, the Swiss
subsidiary succeeded once again in further expanding exports and the
Duty-Free segment. The LINDT Global Retail Division made a further
important contribution to the above-average Group growth with sales
increase of 20%. The expansion of the Group's own distribution network is
proceeding rapidly worldwide.

Outlook: 
Lindt & Sprüngli group is maintaining its long-term strategic targets for
the year as a whole and expects to report organic sales growth of 6-8% and
an increase in its EBIT margin by 20-40 basis points.

Some of the opinions expressed here are based on assumptions about the
future. For various reasons (e.g. general economic conditions, fluctuations
in the currency and raw materials sector, regulatory trends), the actual
results may differ.

The overall half-yearly financial statement will be published on Tuesday,
August 19, 2014 (at 7:00 AM).
Media contact: Mediarelations-In@lindt.com / Tel: +41 (0)44 71.62-456 or
-457 or -486
Investor Relations contact: Investorrelations-in@lindt.com / Tel +41 (0)44
716 25 37


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Language:               English
Company:                Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG
                        Seestrasse 204
                        8802 Kilchberg
                        Switzerland
Phone:                  + 41 44 716 25 37
Fax:                    + 41 44 716 26 60
E-mail:                 zdrozd@lindt.com
Internet:               www.lindt.com
ISIN:                   CH0010570759, CH0010570767
Valor:                  1057075, 1057076
Listed:                 SIX
 
End of Announcement                             EQS Group News-Service
 
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