HASELÜNNE (dpa-AFX) - The schnapps and beverage manufacturer Berentzen earned less last year despite price increases. According to preliminary figures, consolidated operating earnings before interest and taxes amounted to EUR 7.7 million in 2023, down on the previous year's EUR 8.3 million, as the listed company announced on Tuesday in Haselünne in Emsland. The Group has not yet provided any information on earnings after tax.

Turnover increased by 6.6 percent to 185.6 million euros. "All of the Group's key performance indicators for the 2023 financial year are therefore within the ranges we forecast," said CEO Oliver Schwegmann according to the press release. However, Schwegmann was dissatisfied with the quality of earnings. "The sales growth was achieved exclusively through price increases with a slightly lower sales volume. We were therefore unable to increase our gross profit compared to the previous year." In addition, costs increased significantly.

However, things were already better in the final quarter of 2023. In the last three months of the year, consolidated operating earnings before interest and taxes amounted to 2.7 million euros, compared to 1.5 million euros in the same period in 2022. "We have thus achieved our goal of significantly improving our margin quality over the course of the year," says Schwegmann.

The company intends to present a forecast for 2024 with the final balance sheet at the end of March. "Even though costs are currently declining in some areas, we do not expect energy and commodity prices to return to the levels seen before the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. Instead, we are confronted with a new reality."

The Berentzen Group has therefore revised its strategic guidelines in recent months. The results will be presented in the coming days. "The core of our new orientation will be to align and focus the company, structures and processes as well as the product portfolios even more consistently on the further growth of our known strategic core topics," announced Schwegmann. He did not yet provide any details.

In addition to the Berentzen parent brand, the Berentzen Group also includes other spirits such as Doornkaat and Bommerlunder. Non-alcoholic beverages are also produced, including Mio Mio Mate and Sinalco under license./fjo/DP/men