Muttenz – Valora recorded strong sales growth in 2023. Sales for the entire Group increased to CHF 2.8 billion, up CHF 218 million or 8.5% on the previous year. Growth was driven mainly by rising food sales in all business areas. At almost 20%, the wholesale pretzel business recorded the highest increase in sales.
In an internationally challenging macroeconomic environment, the Valora Group not only posted strong sales growth in all business sectors, but also increased its operating profit (EBIT) by 34% to CHF 70 million. This improvement resulted from higher food sales in the sales outlets, the growing wholesale pretzel business and the positive effects of vertical integration in the in-house pretzel production business.
Successful foodvenience strategy
Valora is meeting growing consumer demand for fresh and healthy out-of-home food by consistently implementing its foodvenience strategy, which combines fresh food offerings and retail. With the addition of 42 locations, the Valora sales outlet network in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Luxembourg and the Netherlands now comprises more than 2,800 outlets.
avec becomes a leading provider in the convenience business
In Switzerland, Valora successfully completed the acquisition of the Moveri service station stores to expand its network to some 180 locations. By the end of the year, the last locations secured by the SBB tender had also been fitted out in line with the latest standards. With its expanded sales outlet network, avec is now one of the leading Swiss convenience providers. With a share of just under 40% of all sales outlets, k kiosk remains not only the Valora Group’s best-known, but also its most widespread brand in 2023.
Strong growth in food business
With a new store concept, the established brand BackWerk was successfully launched at the main railway stations in the Netherlands in 2023. The Brezelkönig and Ditsch brands, which are popular in Switzerland and Germany respectively, had a successful financial year and again increased sales. The trendy fast-casual brand Frittenwerk also grew strongly again last year to 44 sales outlets in Germany.
Growing demand for pretzels in wholesale trade
With its Ditsch brand, Valora further consolidated its position as the global market leader in the pretzel wholesale business. The plants in Germany (Mainz and Oranienbaum) and the US (Cincinnati) were able to meet the growing demand for pretzels by making optimum use of their expanded production capacities. In the US and Germany, further steps to increase capacity were already taken last year.
Disclaimer
This document contains forward-looking statements referring to topics that are not based on historical fact and cannot otherwise be proven by referring to past events. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions and are subject to uncertainties as well as known and unknown risks. These uncertainties and risks, along with other factors, may mean that actual future events and developments, including Valora’s results, financial position and development, significantly deviate from what was explicitly or implicitly stated or assumed in the forward-looking statements. The information, opinions and forward-looking statements contained in this document only apply at the time of publication. Valora is not obligated to review or update forward-looking statements in light of new information or future developments or for any other reasons. This media release is not intended as a recommendation to buy securities.