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Group Bel at glance Our history A responsible and profitable model International presence Our activities
Our brands and products Pleasure, quality and sustainability Discover Bel’s brands
Expertises Know how Industrial performance Innovation at Bel
Our commitments Contributing to healthier and more responsible food for all Increasing the accessibility of our products Promoting Regenerative Agriculture Designing sustainable portions Fighting climate change Our Group Policies
Bel’s Foundation
Careers Our social model at a glance The Bel experience Bel jobs Student section Join us
Finance Financial calendar and Articles of association Shareholders Corporate gouvernance Regulatory information General meetings
Newsroom News Publications

Third-quarter financial information – Sales

Sales advance 15.3% in the first nine months of the year

Amounts are expressed in millions of euros and rounded off to the nearest million. Ratios and variances are calculated based on underlying amounts, not rounded off amounts.

Consolidated sales for the first nine months of 2017 totaled €2,513 million, up 15.3% versus the same period ended September 30, 2016.

The Mont-Blanc Materne (MOM) Group accounted for €312 million, or 14.3%, of the growth. Foreign exchange fluctuations for the period reduced sales growth by €34 million, or 1.5%. Excluding the negative foreign exchange impact and the positive impact form the change in the scope of consolidation, sales increased 2.5% in the first nine months of 2017, versus the prior year period.

Third-quarter 2017 sales came to €847 million, up 16% compared to Q3 2016. Excluding the impact of changes in the scope of consolidation and the foreign exchange impact, sales grew 5.0% in the third quarter.

By geographical region, the sales trend was as follows:

In Europe, consolidated sales advanced 19.9% over the first nine months of 2017. Excluding the impact of consolidating MOM and despite the negative foreign exchange impact, sales in the region were up 4.8% for the period. Following slower growth in the first half of the year, the third-quarter volume performance in European markets matched the level achieved in Q3 2016. While Bel sought to offer its dairy producers a fair price in an environment of sharply rising raw material prices, the Group was only partially able to raise its own prices as a result of downward pressure fuelled by retailer price wars. The Group continued to strengthen its range of innovative and healthy products, in line with consumer expectations.

Sales in the Middle East and Greater Africa region declined 7.6% versus the first nine months of 2016. Sales in the region were negatively impacted by unfavorable foreign exchange fluctuations, particularly as a result of the strong depreciation of the Egyptian pound in the last quarter of 2016. In oil-export-dependent countries, where purchasing power weakened overall, higher prices for largely imported dairy raw materials made dairy products less affordable. As a result, demand contracted and competitive pressure intensified. Further, in several regions, distribution channels remained hamstrung by political instability.

In the Americas, Asia-Pacific region, sales in the first nine months of the year grew 3.4%, excluding the impact of the MOM acquisition, with slower growth momentum reported in Q3 versus the first six months of 2017. Asian markets continued to report double-digit sales growth, while growth in North American markets was more moderate.

Outlook for 2017

Affected by the strong rise in dairy raw material prices, with the lion’s share of the impact expected to hit in the second half of the year, the Group expects its operating margin to decline significantly in H2 2017, versus the prior year period.

Further, the Group expects raw material prices to rise again in 2018, particularly butter fat prices.

Against this backdrop, the Group is implementing a number of savings and continues its efforts to enhance manufacturing productivity. Bel reaffirms its brands growth strategy in the healthy snack sector and reiterates its trust in its teams to achieve it.

Bel’s financial performance indicators

The Group uses non-IFRS financial performance indicators internally and for its external communication. These non-IFRS indicators are defined below:

Organic growth corresponds to reported sales growth, excluding impacts from foreign exchange fluctuations and changes in the scope of consolidation, (i.e. on a constant structure and exchange-rate basis). The organic growth rate is calculated by applying the exchange rate for the prior year period to the current year period.

Operating margin corresponds to operating income.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Such trend and/or target information should in no way be regarded as earnings forecast data or performance indicators of any kind. This information is by nature subject to risks and uncertainties that may be beyond the Company’s control. A detailed description of these risks and uncertainties is provided in the Company’s Registration Document, available at (www.groupe-bel.com). More comprehensive information about the Bel Group can be found in the “Regulatory Information” section of the www.groupe-bel.comwebsite.