It's been a good year for the biggest firms in the Italian pasta industry.
Barilla Group posted an increase in both net profit and revenue in 2017, according to data published by the Radiocor agency.
The Parma-based group, which is the leading pasta producer in the world, ended the year with a net profit of €241 million, up from €201 million the previous year, while revenues were up 2% to €3.46 billion (+3% at constant exchange rates).
Investments during the financial year amounted to €218 million.
In its home market, the Barilla Group grew in almost all the categories in which it operates. The Europe region, Italy excluded, saw a growth of 6% in volumes and 4% (at constant exchange rates).
The best performing markets were France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Russia and CIS, the company said. In the Americas, the trend was similarly positive in almost all markets, while in Asia, Africa and Australia region revenues increased by 8%, at constant exchange rates, with volumes remaining steady.
The Barilla Group operates directly in 26 countries, exports its products to over 100 countries and owns 28 production sites in nine countries, including Italy.
Positive Performances
The second-biggest pasta producer in the world and the leader in the premium segment, De Cecco, also saw continued growth, both commercially and through acquisitions, closing 2017 with a consolidated turnover of €436 million (+0.6% in value, +1.3% in volume).
EBITDA for the year stood at €50 million, which was stable compared to 2016. The company is planning an IPO, likely to take place by the end of 2018 or the beginning of 2019, reported daily La Repubblica.
Elsewhere, Pastificio Lucio Garofalo, Italy’s third biggest in terms of value of sales, reported 2017 revenues of €154 million, which was down -4.3%, although EBITDA rose 5.9% to €23.09 million, according to Radiocor.
The company is owned by Spanish group Ebro Foods and exported 65% of its production abroad, mainly to the US, France and Spain.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine
