Slower growth for Lindt after bottlenecks bite
It had a bumper 2021, but Switzerland's Lindt is expecting a tougher year ahead.
Demand for its upmarket chocolates soared during the global health crisis, boosting 2021 sales by over 13%.
Lindt & Spruengli, to give it its full name, said growth was driven by high demand for treats to eat at home, and a resumption of gift-giving occasions as restrictions eased.
Its Lindor range recorded double-digit growth in major European markets and, while stores were impacted by lockdowns, the company also experienced double-digit increases in online sales.
But in North America, sales slowed in the second half of 2021.
The firm said that was partly due to supply chain bottlenecks caused by labor and materials shortages at its Russell Stover brand.
That's likely to spill over into this year, with Lindt predicting sales of its chocolates will grow at slower pace.
