Sweet result for chocolate maker

The premium chocolates maker, Lindt & Sprüngli, says its profits rose 11 per cent last year. The company, which is based near Zurich, said its sales were also up seven per cent to SFr1.4 billion.

The premium chocolates maker, Lindt & Sprüngli, says its profits rose 11 per cent last year. The company, which is based near Zurich, said its sales were also up seven per cent to SFr1.4 billion.

However, analysts had been predicting a better result, forecasting a net profit of SFr73.2 million. They have become increasingly confident on the outlook for the Swiss chocolate maker.

Lindt & Sprüngli is considered to be at the right end of the market as consumer taste continues to see the appetite for chocolate declining, while demand for higher quality chocolate increases.

The Lindt & Sprüngli results come a day after another chocolate maker, Barry Callebaut, released disappointing figures for last year. Net profits over the first half of its financial year fell 17 per cent to SFr61.9 million.

However on the operating level the company expected a ten per cent increase in profits for the full year, as market conditions improved. Owned by Jakobs Suchard, Barry Callebaut is the world’s biggest industrial chocolate maker.

swissinfo with agencies