Lindt & Spruengli has H1 profit miss as North America weighs

Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Spruengli AG

25/07/2017 06:01

ZURICH, July 25 (Reuters) - Swiss chocolate maker Lindt & 
Spruengli  LISP.S   LISN.  forecast revenue growth would slow 
this year and reported first-half net profit rose slightly less 
than the market had expected, hit by sluggish chocolate demand 
in the United States. 
    "Due to current developments in North America, it is 
anticipated that revenue growth for the full year will be 
slightly lower than in the previous year, combined with an 
increase of the operating profit margin. However, the group is 
still confident that its growth will considerably exceed the 
industry average," it said in a statement on Tuesday. 
    Net profit at the maker of Lindor chocolate balls and gold 
foil-wrapped Easter bunnies rose 5.7 percent to 76.3 million 
Swiss francs ($80.6 million) on sales up 3.1 percent to 1.549 
billion francs. 
    Analysts polled by Reuters had on average expected net 
profit to rise to 77.3 million francs on sales up 6 percent at 
1.59 billion.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL5N1KF1QE 
    ($1 = 0.9466 Swiss francs) 
 
 (Reporting by Michael Shields; Editing by John Revill) 
 ((Michael.Shields@thomsonreuters.com; +41 58 306 7461; Reuters 
Messaging: michael.shields.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: LINDT & SPRUENGL RESULTS/