Berentzen-Gruppe Aktiengesellschaft publishes Interim Report Q1/2023: Significant increase in revenues and positive operating result (EBIT)

"We are pleased with a positive consolidated EBIT and the renewed significant growth in our consolidated revenues," explains Oliver Schwegmann, Chief Executive Officer of Berentzen-Gruppe Aktiengesellschaft. This means that revenues have continued the trend of the past year. In the 2022 financial year, these have already grown by double-digit percentages in every single quarter compared with the corresponding figure for the previous year. "As we expected and communicated, the quality of earnings in the first quarter of the 2023 financial year was marked by significantly higher cost burdens compared to the same quarter of the previous year, as these had only gradually built up in the previous year," Schwegmann said. These cost burdens also had a corresponding effect on the key earnings figures EBITDA and EBIT in the first quarter. "Price increases for our product ranges, which have already been negotiated at the beginning of 2023 and are necessary in view of further material price increases, will gradually unfold their positive effect on the earnings ratios from the second quarter onwards, so that we will improve our margin quality again in the course of the financial year," said Schwegmann.

"Looking at the past three months, I would like to highlight in particular the dynamic development of Mio Mio from our Non-alcoholic Beverages segment. We achieved an impressive increase in sales of almost 30 per cent with the products of this brand in the first quarter. Likewise, in the Spirits segment, the liqueurs of our strategic core brands Berentzen and Puschkin combined also achieved significant double-digit growth with a 29 percent increase in sales. These examples show that we are still on the right track with our strategic core themes and have great potential for further growth," Schwegmann is certain.

Further outlook for the 2023 financial year
After the first quarter went as expected, the Berentzen Group today confirmed its forecast for the 2023 financial year. The corporate group expects consolidated revenues in a range of EUR 185.0 million to EUR 195.0 million, a consolidated EBIT of between EUR 7.0 million and EUR 9.0 million and a consolidated EBITDA of between EUR 15.6 million and EUR 17.6 million.

"Even though the first quarter was once again associated with some challenges in terms of costs, we are optimistic about the future, especially in view of the development of turnover. Our price negotiations have been largely successful, so that we will now also gradually increase the return on sales in the sense of qualitative growth," Schwegmann concludes.