2019

• Consolidated revenues up slightly
• Consolidated operating result (EBIT) at previous-year level
• Earnings forecast for the 2019 financial year unchanged

Haselünne, May 7, 2019 – Berentzen-Gruppe Aktiengesellschaft, which is listed on the Regulated Market (General Standard) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ISIN: DE0005201602) today presented its interim report for the first quarter of the 2019 financial year. Over the first three months of this year, the corporate group generated consolidated revenues of EUR 36.9 million (Q1 2018: EUR 36.5 million) – a slight rise of 1.0 percent. Consolidated earnings before interest and taxes (consolidated EBIT) for the first quarter stood at EUR 1.7 million, i.e. at the previous-year level. Consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (consolidated EBITDA) improved by 5.6 % to EUR 3.7 million (Q1 2018: EUR 3.5 million).

“We made a successful start to 2019”, says Oliver Schwegmann, one of Berentzen-Gruppe Aktiengesellschaft’s Executive Board members, expressing his satisfaction with the quarterly figures published today, and continues: “Despite Easter, a seasonal highlight of great importance to our business, falling in the second quarter of this year, we succeeded in maintaining our earnings level and even increasing revenues.”

The main factors responsible for the rise in revenue included the ongoing dynamic growth in sales of Mio Mio products in the Non-alcoholic Beverages segment and rising sales of fruit presses in the Fresh Juice Systems segment. “We are very pleased that we are able make out at our subsidiary TMP/Citrocasa the first signs of recovery on the market overall”, says Schwegmann.

Outlook for the 2019 financial year remains positive

In the 2018 financial year, the Executive Board had forecast for the 2019 financial years higher revenues and an earnings position largely at the previous-year level. The figures published today are already pointing in this direction. “For the rest of the year, our internal planning provides for stronger revenue growth. We have only just launched the innovation campaign, announced on many occasions, relating to our two most important projects for this year. Over the coming months we will now dedicate ourselves to achieving a high distribution level so that the innovations will then be able to generate further revenue growth”, Schwegmann continues. Berentzen Signature, an entirely new type of premium fruit liqueur, was introduced to the market on April 1, 2019. In addition, non-alcoholic herb lemonades under the Kräuterbraut brand are currently being delivered to retailers for the first time. These lemonades serve the trend towards natural, vegan and reduced-sugar foods.