The Barilla group concludes 2012 with a turnover up by 2%, to 3,996 billion euros, but also with a net profit down by 21,1% on an annual basis, to 60 million. Recurring Ebitda fell 9,2% to 433 million.
“We can say we are satisfied with the sales results, taking into account the macroeconomic scenario in which we operate, but the drop in profits needs to be explained – commented the chairman Guido Barilla -. The group has decided not to pass on the costs of raw material increases to the consumer. Furthermore, it has continued to invest in quality to reduce the impact of what it produces on the environment. And this obviously has an impact on the income statement”.
Net financial debt decreased to 574 million, against 688 million in 2012, and is equal to approximately 1,3 times the EBITDA. "Now we have a solid financial position, we are much more solid than a few years ago", noted the managing director Claudio Colzani.
Operational management, it was explained today, was affected in 2012 by the continuation of the global recession, which was particularly acute in Italy, where Barilla achieved 40% of its turnover, with a 3% reduction in sales volumes last year.
For 2013, Colzani anticipated, the group expects a growth in turnover of 3-4% in terms of values and 4% in terms of volumes, with an increase in Ebitda of 12,5%. In other words, a confirmation of the trend that has already manifested itself in the first four months of the year. In particular, the expectation is 2% growth in Europe (but with Italy still down by 2%), 10% in America and 11% in Asia.