Berentzen enjoys strong end to 2015

25-Jan-2016 - Germany

Executive Board's forecast for the financial year 2015 confirmed
Strong revenues in the spirits and Fresh juice Systems segments in December, as anticipated
Positive response to new generation of fruit presses
Unification of share classes increases attractiveness for investors

The Berentzen Group recorded a strong end to the year in its Spirits and Fresh Juice Systems segments, with both sales volume and revenues rising across these key business activities in December compared with the equivalent period last year.

In line with its existing forecasts, the Berentzen Group continues to believe that its consolidated operating profit in the 2015 financial year will be significantly higher than in the 2014 financial year on an adjusted basis.

In 2016 the commercial activities of the Berentzen Group will again focus on generating growth and increasing profitability. In this context, the group intends to more actively target the fresh drinks market with its new Fresh Juice Systems segment in order to profit from the continuing trend towards healthy nutrition. Growth prospects for fresh juice systems, marketed under the "Citrocasa" brand, are strong. The newly developed compact fruit press "Revolution" received a very warm welcome from international catering trade clients. They are now also able to offer their customers freshly squeezed orange juice in best Citrocasa quality. Besides expanding its Fresh Juice Systems segment, Berentzen is also looking to constantly optimise its sales structures in Germany as well as internationally and permanently revitalise the umbrella brands "Berentzen" and "Puschkin". The popular "Mio Mio Mate" brand achieved outstanding sales growth and a successful listing throughout Germany in 2015, which is encouraging the Berentzen Group to press ahead with the continuous expansion of its Germany-wide distribution activities in the Non-alcoholic Beverages segment.

Following the unification of the share classes which was concluded in autumn 2015, as well as the simultaneous listing of all shares in the General Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, the company intends to continue its intensive investor relations activities. The medium-term target for the Berentzen Group is to increase its operating margin by one percentage point per annum. In addition, the share buy-back programme which was initiated in 2015 will be continued in the current financial year. CEO Frank Schübel explains:

"The reframing we initiated in 2013 is having a sustainable effect.

As the healthy development of the share price over the last year demonstrates, the success of our strategy is being rewarded by the capital market. We are aiming to continue on this path in 2016." (dpa)

https://www.yumda.com/en/news/1146936/berentzen-enjoys-strong-end-to-2015.html