Media releases

The shareholders of today's ordinary General Meeting of Emmi AG approved all the proposals put forward by the Board of Directors. Due to the current situation and the Federal Council’s ordinance, voting rights could only be exercised in writing or electronically.

The plant-based product line Beleaf with yogurt alternatives, drinks and shakes based on almonds or oats is Emmi’s answer to the growing demand for vegan foods. Emmi’s family of coffee drinks is also sprouting a vegan offshoot: Emmi Caffè Drink Almond Macchiato. The new products offer an alternative to imported milk substitutes.

Emmi increased its sales by 1.1 % to CHF 3,494 million in 2019 and achieved pleasing, broad-based organic growth of 2.2 %. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) improved by 0.5 % to CHF 218 million. At CHF 166 million, net profit was 5.3 % below the adjusted figure for the previous year, primarily as a result of a higher tax rate and higher minority interests. Sales and earnings are thus in line with Emmi’s forecasts and reflect the robustness, quality and balance of the company and product portfolio. Emmi continued to implement its strategy with conviction and consistency in 2019, advancing the business with a specific focus on growth markets, brands and the expansion of the strategic niches of desserts, organic products and goat’s milk. A dividend of CHF 12.00, CHF 3.00 higher than in the previous year, will be proposed to the General Meeting. This is a result of the revised dividend policy, which provides for an increase in the distribution rate to between 40 % and 50 % (previously 25 % to 30 %). For 2020, Emmi expects organic growth in line with its medium-term forecast (2 % to 3 %) and a further improvement in EBIT.

Emmi generated net sales of CHF 3,494.0 million in 2019. This corresponds to a 1.1 % increase (2018: CHF 3,457.4 million). At 2.2 %, organic sales growth is in the upper third of the company’s own expectations of 1.5 % to 2.5 %. It is pleasing that all four business divisions were able to achieve growth organically, with Switzerland and Europe in particular showing a strong sales development in the second half of the year. Emmi Caffè Latte was a success factor here. Emmi still maintains its earnings targets announced in February 2019. The results will be communicated on 2 March 2020.

The cheese production facility in Landquart specialising in raclette cheese has surpassed the 100 million mark. This is the largest volume of milk that has been processed within the space of one year at the site, which has been leased by Emmi since 2003. This success story has been fuelled by the rising demand for raclette in Switzerland and the huge popularity of Swiss large-holed cheese in the USA.

Nearly 3,500 cheeses from more than 40 countries were put to the test at this year’s World Cheese Awards in Bergamo. Emmi submitted selected Swiss cheeses to the jury along with some cheese specialities from the United States. They received 26 awards in total. In addition to six gold, nine silver and six bronze medals, Emmi also won three of the coveted "Super Gold" awards.

Surlat, the existing Emmi company in Chile, is merging with competitor Quillayes to form Quillayes Surlat. The newly founded company will be the number four in the Chilean dairy market. Emmi subsidiary Kaiku will hold a majority stake of 51.5 %. The acquisition is subject to approval by the local competition authorities.

Emmi made good progress in the first half of 2019 thanks to the consistent implementation of its strategy. The business was further strengthened with a special focus on growth markets and the expansion of the strategic niche areas of desserts, organic products and goat’s milk. At operational level, Emmi held up well despite the difficult environment thanks to strong innovation and the Emmi Operational Excellence cost-saving programme. Organic sales growth of 1.6 % was slightly below expectations, but Emmi is still on track to meet its earnings targets. Compared with (adjusted) prior-year figures, EBIT was slightly down in the first six months of the year, while net profit was slightly up.

Italian dessert specialities are an important strategic area for the growth of the Emmi Group’s European business. Through its acquisition of Pasticceria Quadrifoglio srl, Emmi is expanding and strengthening its existing dessert network in Italy with a further competent player.

Emmi Caffè Latte will not just feature at numerous Swiss World Cup ski races; it will also be prominently visible on Wendy Holdener from next season. The highly likeable racer from central Switzerland will bear the Emmi Caffè Latte logo on her helmet, ski cap and baseball cap. Taking over as main sponsor will strengthen the existing partnership.

At the start of 2018, Emmi gave its employees the motto “We are proactive and not afraid of hard work – together”. No fewer than 20 projects – including seven from abroad – were submitted to the jury. On 12 April 2019, the best approaches to achieving a great deal together under time and work pressure received awards. First place went to an anti-food waste project.

At today’s General Meeting in Lucerne, the shareholders of Emmi AG approved all the proposals put forward by the Board of Directors. The meeting was attended by 1,458 shareholders, representing 4,351,102 of the registered shares or 81.33 % of the share capital.

Low-calorie foods are a huge trend – but so is re-discovering indulgence. Emmi’s new range of yogurts, Emmi Moments, is pure indulgence. Emmi Moments are a deliciously creamy treat and come in four varieties: chocolate, caramel, strawberry and lemon cheesecake. So there’s something for everyone.

Switzerland exported some 73,000 tonnes of cheese in 2018. A considerable amount of cheese – 62,000 tonnes – was also imported into Switzerland, however, 40 % of it fresh cheese from abroad. Toni’s is now challenging this dominance.

15 years on the market, and still as fresh as ever! During 2018, Emmi Caffè Latte increased in popularity in all the countries where it is sold. But that’s no reason for Emmi to rest on its laurels - rather, we see it as an incentive to offer fans of our chilled coffee beverage even more. That's why we are launching two new products in spring 2019: Emmi Caffè Latte Colombia Edition and Emmi Caffè Latte Cold Brew.

Emmi sells its trading and supply company Emmi Frisch-Service AG to the Transgourmet Group.

Emmi increased Group sales by 2.8 % to CHF 3,457.4 million in 2018. In organic terms, i.e. excluding currency and acquisition effects, this resulted in growth of 2.3 %, the strongest increase since 2014. Pleasingly, this growth was broad-based across the business divisions Switzerland (+0.6 %), Americas (+5.6 %) and Europe (+4.4 %).

Through its purchase of the Great Lakes Cheese Company’s production site in Seymour, Wisconsin, USA, Emmi Roth is gaining additional capacity for the production of blue cheese in the United States.

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