Preliminary figures for the 2024 financial year published: Berentzen Group significantly improves consolidated operating profit (EBIT) by around 37 percent

Berentzen-Gruppe Aktiengesellschaft (ISIN: DE0005201602), which is listed on the Regulated Market (General Standard) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, today announced preliminary, as yet unaudited financial results for the 2024 financial year. Accordingly, the corporate group generated consolidated revenues of EUR 181.9 million (2023: EUR 185.7 million). Group earnings before interest and taxes (Group EBIT) adjusted for non-recurring effects increased by 37% to EUR 10.6 million (2023: EUR 7.7 million). Consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (consolidated EBITDA) amounted to EUR 19.3 million (2023: EUR 16.0 million).

“We are very pleased to have achieved the highest consolidated EBIT for many years in the past financial year,” says Oliver Schwegmann, CEO of the Berentzen Group. The two key earnings figures consolidated EBIT and consolidated EBITDA are in the upper half of the increased forecast range updated on August 1, 2024. The significant increase in Group EBIT - and correspondingly in Group EBITDA - compared to the previous year was primarily due to a significant improvement in Group gross profit. “Regaining our gross profit strength is a goal that we have been focusing on since the massive price increases as a result of the war in Ukraine. In the 2024 financial year, in addition to dynamic developments in strategic core areas, improvements in product margins in particular have enabled us to operate so profitably,” explains Schwegmann.

At EUR 181.9 million, however, the Group's consolidated sales revenue was slightly below the previous year's figure. The main reason for this development is the overall decline in sales volumes. “We continue to find ourselves in a challenging market situation,” says Schwegmann. “Consumers are noticeably unsettled by inflation and macroeconomic crises, which is reflected in a clear reluctance to spend.” In addition, temporary conflicts with some retail partners in connection with the necessary price increases led to the suspension of promotional activities, which also had a negative impact on sales. The sale of the Grüneberg plant and the associated mineral water brands last year also contributed to the decline in sales.

New corporate strategy shows first results
In February of last year, the Berentzen Group published its new corporate strategy Building BERENTZEN 2028, in which a medium-term forecast for the 2028 financial year was also announced for the first time. “The significant increase in our key earnings figures in the 2024 financial year shows that we have already made important progress towards our ambitious medium-term targets after just one year,” explains Schwegmann. As part of the strategy, the beverage group also sold the production site for non-alcoholic beverages in Grüneberg last year, which led to a corresponding one-off effect on earnings for the 2024 financial year, but will have a positive effect on both the consolidated operating result and free cash flow in the medium term. “We also have big plans for the 2025 financial year. In addition to focusing on further profitability, we will once again expand our sales structure and massively increase our marketing and communication budgets in order to achieve a positive trend in our sales volumes again. We are convinced that this will enable us to hold our own in a challenging market environment in the future,” concluded Schwegmann.

The preliminary business results of Berentzen-Gruppe Aktiengesellschaft are subject to the auditor's opinion and approval by the Supervisory Board. The final business results and further information on the 2024 financial year and the 2025 forecast will be published as planned on March 27, 2025 with the 2024 Annual Report.