The Italian food-maker Barilla has announced strong 2014 growth for Europe, the US, Asia, Africa, and Australia, with turnover up by two per cent to €3.2 billion, LSA reports.
Pre-tax profits for the company in 2014 stood at €427 million – an improvement on 2013's €409 million.
In Italy, where it generates about half of its revenue, sales volumes were up by a percantage point – an achievement which came to pass in part as a result of Barilla's new baked-food range. Its president, Guido Barilla, observed, "In spite of the difficult market environment, the company continued to grow abroad with an above-average performance in the Italian market.”
Within the rest of Europe, sales volumes improved on a like-for-like basis by five per cent, a figure that includes trading in the United Kingdom, an FMCG market it entered last year, while volumes were up by four per cent in the United States, and by six per cent in Africa, Asia and Australia. The growth figures for newer markets Russia and Brazil were, respectively, 93 per cent and 50 per cent.
In Italy this year, Barilla will launch its own brand of oven, as well as a new kind of high-protein dough, which is to be advertised by Oscar-winner Gabriele Salvatores.
© 2015 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article written by Peter Donnelly.
