Landgard achieved a 3 % increase in sales in 2019 to the current level of EUR 2.012 billion (previous year: EUR 1.953 billion). EUR 1.225 billion (previous year EUR 1.212 billion) of this was accounted for by the Flowers & Plants division and EUR 761 million (previous year EUR 715 million) by the Fruit & Vegetables division. As in the previous year, the Logistics and Services division contributed EUR 26 million to the total sales of the Landgard Group. Earnings before taxes (EBT) rose by more than 31 % and at EUR 25.3 million were significantly better than in the previous year. At the same time, bank liabilities were further reduced significantly. They decreased by EUR 60.8 million to EUR 143.0 million. In parallel, the ratio of economic equity rose to 17.9 percent.
These positive figures are all the more pleasing as the climatic conditions in the 2019 financial year were again very challenging. For both Landgard divisions, Flowers & Plants and Fruit & Vegetables, the weather conditions with frosty nights in spring, long periods of heat and far too little precipitation were anything but optimal. "The 2019 business result is the result of the tireless efforts and practiced cooperation between the member companies, our employees and our strategic customers. The proximity to the producers and customers documents the success of our cooperative with added value for all concerned. The growth in the number of producer companies in the divisions, the expansion of the product portfolio and the high acceptance of our services by our customers shows that we are on the right track. We are an engine of innovation, pacesetter and pioneer in the green sector. This is our claim and our motivation", says Carsten Bönig, member of the board of Landgard eG.
The Landgard Management Board, left to right: Dirk Bader, Carsten Bönig, Labinot Elshani
Fruit & Vegetables Division
Despite renewed, in some cases extreme, weather conditions in the various production areas and continuing strong price pressure, the Fruit & Vegetables business segment performed above average in the past fiscal year. "The positive development of the Fruit & Vegetable segment in the 2019 financial year is due on the one hand to greater product diversification, particularly in fruit and especially exotic fruit, and on the other hand to stable growth with our own national and international member companies," says Labinot Elshani, CEO of Landgard eG.
The non-consolidated total sales of the Fruit & Vegetables division exceeded the billion euro mark for the third time in a row and amounted to around EUR 1,166 million in the 2019 financial year. This corresponds to sales growth of around EUR 94.7 million (+8.8 %) compared to the previous year. Despite the once again in part very difficult production and marketing conditions, volume and sales increases were achieved in most business units.
In 2019, the focus was again on further developing the cooperative producer structures. In addition to other national and European member companies, new producers from overseas were acquired, especially in the banana production sector. This strengthening of the worldwide first-hand purchase of goods, coupled with long-term partnerships in strategically important procurement countries, is essential to meet today's market conditions and challenges.
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