Lindt & Sprüngli Coy On Us Expansion Amid Speculation Around Tariffs

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Lindt & Sprüngli has neither explicitly confirmed nor denied it is weighing options to grow manufacturing successful nan US to antagonistic President Trump’s tariffs.

Bloomberg reported past week, citing group acquainted pinch proceedings, that nan Switzerland-headquartered premium cocoa shaper could beryllium seeking to walk up to $10m to facilitate US accumulation of Easter products made successful Germany.

The news agency’s sources suggested nan plans would impact nan manufacture of seasonal items specified arsenic Easter bunnies, Santa-depicted cocoa products and different hollow cocoa figures.

Asked to remark connected nan speculation erstwhile approached by Just Food, a spokesperson for Lindt & Sprüngli provided a statement, noting an description task that is underway astatine 1 of its sites successful nan US. However, nan task was not specifically identified arsenic being connected pinch tariffs.

“We person been evaluating further investments successful our accumulation capacity successful nan United States for respective years. We are presently expanding our accumulation capacity astatine our tract successful Stratham, New Hampshire,” nan spokesperson said.

“Regardless of nan tariffs, we continuously activity to amended nan ratio of our accumulation and proviso chains. This includes reviewing which products are manufactured astatine which sites and for which markets.”

Lindt & Sprüngli operates 5 accumulation plants successful nan US, including 3 for its Russell Stover confectionery unit, and 7 successful Europe, a spokesperson confirmed.

In its 2024 yearly study issued successful March, nan institution noted: “In statement pinch our income growth, we are expanding our capacities successful nan United States by continuing nan description of nan accumulation installation successful Stratham, New Hampshire.

“The task is connected way and scheduled to go afloat operational successful 2025, importantly expanding nan plant’s capacity. Investments successful automation will besides noticeably summation productivity.”

That year, Lindt & Sprüngli reported world income of SFr5.47bn ($6.77bn), pinch SFr2.15bn generated successful North America – SFr843m successful nan US; SFr442m successful Canada; and SFr574m successful Mexico.

No mention of nan imaginable effect of US tariffs was made successful Lindt & Sprüngli’s half-year study issued successful July.

Organic income roseate 11.2% to SFr2.35bn successful nan half “supported by basal value increases to offset record-high cocoa costs” of 15.8%, nan institution said.

Results were down successful different areas. EBITDA dropped 5% to SFr401.8m pinch nan separator falling 250 ground points to 17.1%.

EBIT decreased 11.3% to SFr259.2m, while nan separator fell to 11% from 13.5%. Net income declined 13.3% to SFr188.9m.

As those results were issued, Lindt & Sprüngli raised its income maturation guidance from 7-9% to 9-11% for nan afloat year.

The EBIT separator is expected to emergence astatine nan “lower end” of its 20-40 basis-point range.