March 4 - Natra, food company leader in the manufacturing and commercialization of products derived from cocoa and chocolate, has finished 2007 with total revenues amounting Euro 384.2mn, compared to Euro 292.9mn obtained in 2006. The gross margin reached Euro 177.9mn, versus Euro 126.5mn last year; this implies a 41% increase. As a result of the integration of All Crump and the business' growth, the group reaches a pro forma sales figure of Euro 426mn for 2007.
Moreover, Natra’s organic growth and the consolidation of the acquisitions made during these last few years have generated an EBITDA amounting €39.5mn and EBIT of
€25.2mn, compared to €29.4mn and €14.8mn obtained in 2006, respectively. EBITDA margin on sales reached 10.3%, versus 10.0% in 2006.
Manuel Moreno, Chairman of Natra, commented that “Natra is placed in a leading position in Europe within the cocoa and chocolate market. The acquisition of All Crump in late 2007 and the coming incorporation of Nutkao to the group will result in the creation of a new business unit. It will help us face 2008 optimistically as we advance in our strategic plan with self-confidence and trust. Natra is already a reference player within the European private label brand chocolate market. More than 85% of Natra’s sales in this division take place outside Spain, selling to 21 of the 30 top-retailers in Europe.”
NATRA operates throughout Europe (Spain represents 10 % of its turnover), and is present in 21 of the 30 principal European distributors through PLB and fancy brand products. The company created a new business unit, chocolate and hazelnut spreads, during last 2007, through the acquisition of the Belgian All Crump and the Italian Nutkao. This operation turned the company into the leading European producer of chocolate and hazelnut spreads for Private Label Brand market and the second largest after Ferrero.