• 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 1.20billion. 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).
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