DGAP-News: Leifheit AG: Sales on par with previous year despite Euro crisis (english)
Leifheit AG: Sales on par with previous year despite Euro crisis
DGAP-News: Leifheit AG / Key word(s): Development of Sales
Leifheit AG: Sales on par with previous year despite Euro crisis
14.02.2013 / 09:50
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Leifheit: Sales on par with previous year despite Euro crisis
- Sales increase in the Brand Business
- Operating result (EBIT) rises by 10 percent
- POS excellence is the lead topic at the Ambiente 2013
Frankfurt/Nassau, 14 February 2013 - Despite the crises in the Southern
European countries, the Leifheit Group, one of the leading European brand
suppliers of household articles, has accomplished to increase its sales in
the business year 2012 according to the preliminary calculations. The
group's turnover climbed from EUR222.1 million to EUR224.2 million, which
is a plus of nearly one percent compared to the previous year. Adjusted by
a one-time consolidation effect in the year 2012, the turnover was on par
with the previous year.
There were strong differences in performance among the main sales regions
in Europe during the year 2012. In the focus countries of Central Europe,
such as Germany, France, the Netherlands or Austria, Leifheit has generated
clearly positive growth rates in part. Almost all Southern European
countries in contrast have developed regressively in the course of the
persisting Euro and debt crisis. However, double digit sales increases
could be achieved in the Eastern European region.
With a plus in sales of 4.2 percent, which rose to EUR177.7 million, the
Brand Business has closed the business year 2012 successfully. Adjusted by
the special effect, growth was at 2.5 percent. The portion of the turnover
from the most important business segment that holds together the brands
Leifheit and Soehnle increased to 79.3 percent. Most of all, the e-commerce
sales channel contributed to the growth as Leifheit is continuously
expanding it further. The company reported a plus of 25.0 percent in this
segment with an increase to EUR 13.8 million.
In the second segment, the Volume Business, sales declined by 9.9 percent
to EUR46.5 million. Among the reasons for this were the stagnating project
business in the USA as well as turnover missing at the French subsidiaries,
Birambeau and Herby.
Significant growth of the result
The group's result has once again taken a positive turn in the business
year 2012. According to preliminary calculations, the company expects a
considerable increase in the EBIT of about ten percent compared to previous
year's result as adjusted by extraordinary effects. The company will
publish the final, detailed figures of the business year 2012 on 9 April
2013.
Optimal presentation of strong brands
The continuation of the qualitative growth by a comprehensive POS
Excellence Initiative is at centre stage for Leifheit at this year's
Ambiente trade fair hosted in Frankfurt from 15 to 19 February. On a floor
space of 160 square metres, Leifheit is presenting its new brand shop for
the first time in the course of the Ambiente to showcase the entire product
portfolio of the Leifheit and Soehnle brands, as 70 percent of purchase
decisions are made at the point of sale. A customer-oriented product
presentation and providing quick orientation on the sales shelf is
essential in sparing consumers unnecessary searches and making the purchase
decision as easy as possible for them.
'The success of our new POS concept is based on the combination of
high-quality products, packaging drawing strong attention, an intelligent
logic for searching the shelves and of course an efficient brand
communication. The aim is to enable the consumer to experience our product
with all senses', says Georg Thaller, Chairman of the Board of Directors at
Leifheit AG. With the attractive mixture of optimised shelves, product
presentation and accompanying communication, Leifheit supports the
trading-up strategies of its trade partners and ensures a quicker product
turnaround, higher sales and an improved value creation.
Product innovation at the Ambiente
At the Ambiente, the company is furthermore presenting a variety of product
innovations in the four categories of cleaning, laundry care, kitchen and
wellbeing. Among them is the new Clean Twist System with integrated
spinning mechanism in the shaft and the Varioline laundry rack that is
highly adjustable owing to its variable drying rods. Tedious window
cleaning becomes easy as 1-2-3 with the practical Leifheit battery powered
window vacuum cleaner, which received the Plus X Award. In the kitchen
category, Leifheit relies on foldable and space-saving fresh storage
containers. In addition, four new clever kitchen helpers were awarded the
2013 Kitchen Innovation Prize. Health and fitness conscious consumers will
be pleased about the new generation of Soehnle Web-Connect scales. They
enable keeping an eye on the determined weight at all times as it is made
transparent via an internet portal or smart phone application.
Positive outlook into the business year 2013
The Leifheit Group has shown a positive development in the past year
despite the difficult economic environment. The Chairman of the Board of
Directors, Georg Thaller, is optimistic also for the current business year
2013: 'With such a solid financial basis, leading market position, high
brand recognition, innovative product ideas and sales concepts, we are
organised optimally for the future. At the present time we continue to
maintain the long-term goal of additional sales and results increases.'
About Leifheit
Leifheit AG founded in 1959 is one of the leading European brand suppliers
of household items. The company stands for high-quality, innovative
products with great utility and pioneering design in the segments of
cleaning, laundry care, kitchen and well-being. Leifheit and Soehnle are
among the best known brands in Germany. Other than in the brand business,
Leifheit AG operates in the service-oriented volume business via its French
subsidiaries Birambeau and Herby. The Leifheit Group including its
international branches employs a staff of about 1,000.
Contact:
Leifheit AG
D-56377 Nassau
ir@leifheit.com
+49 2604 977218
End of Corporate News
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Language: English
Company: Leifheit AG
Leifheitstraße
56377 Nassau
Germany
Phone: 02604 977-0
Fax: 02604 977-340
E-mail: ir@leifheit.com
Internet: www.leifheit.com
ISIN: DE0006464506
WKN: 646450
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard);
Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover,
München, Stuttgart
End of News DGAP News-Service
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201431 14.02.2013
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