Lindt confirms 2019 outlook after business improves in the U.S.

Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Spruengli AG

23/07/2019 06:14

ZURICH, July 23 (Reuters) - Swiss chocolate maker Lindt &
Spruengli  LISP.S  on Tuesday confirmed it expects organic sales
growth of 5-7% in 2019 after an improving situation in the
United States led to solid profit and sales growth in the first
half of 2019. 
    Chocolate makers have been facing sluggish demand in
saturated western markets, but Lindt's focus on faster-growing
premium products, its own branded store network and a push into
new markets has allowed it to buck that trend.
    Net profit rose 2.4% to 88.1 million Swiss francs ($89.54
million), while organic sales were up 6.2%, the maker of Lindor
chocolate balls and gold foil wrapped Easter bunnies said in a
statement. 
    ($1 = 0.9839 Swiss francs)

 (Reporting by Silke Koltrowitz
Editing by Thomas Seythal)
 ((silke.koltrowitz@thomsonreuters.com; +41 58 306 7454; Reuters
Messaging: silke.koltrowitz.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))