Natra profits up after Belgian acquisition

Natra's overall sales for the year e2007 rose by 31 per cent to €384.2m, compared to €292.9m one year previously. Gross margins also went up, increasing 41 per cent to €177.9m.

Spanish confectionery firm Natra posted
increases in both sales and margins, attributed by the company to
November's acquisition of Belgium-based chocolate firm All Crump. The
firm acquired All Crump last October for €45m, taking on board its
private label products as well as the chocolate spread brands
Palinutta, Patillia and Crumpy. The firm also acquired the Italian
brand Nutkao in November, making Natra the second largest chocolate
spread manufacturer in Europe after Ferraro, makers of the
universally popular Nutella.
Natra produces 45,000 tonnes of
cocoa and chocolate products each year, and recorded profits of €380m
in 2007. Every year the company sells nearly 500m chocolate products
in Europe; 400m flavoured chocolate products, 80m chocolate bars and
18m boxes of chocolates.
The company also said that it will try to
increase its presence in the „private label brand” market, and
claims to be present in 20 of the 30 biggest European PLB brands.