EQS-News: Leifheit Aktiengesellschaft: Preliminary figures for the 2024 financial year

Leifheit Aktiengesellschaft: Preliminary figures for the 2024 financial year

• Group EBIT doubled to EUR 12.1 million (2023: EUR 6.0 million)
• EBIT margin doubled to 4.7 % (2023: 2.3 %)
• Gross margin increased significantly to 44.5 % (+2.4 percentage points)
• Group turnover slightly above previous year at EUR 259.2 million (2023: EUR 258.3 million)
• Free cash flow increased to EUR 14.2 million (2023: EUR 12.1 million)
• Consistent implementation of the holistic corporate strategy bears first fruits

Nassau/Germany, 20. February 2025 – Leifheit AG (ISIN DE0006464506), one of the leading brand suppliers of household products in Europe, has thus achieved its turnover forecast for the 2024 financial year and the earnings forecast, which was raised in July 2024, according to preliminary, unaudited financial figures.

In the 2024 financial year, the Leifheit Group was able to double its Group earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) to EUR 12.1 million, according to preliminary calculations (2023: EUR 6.0 million). The significant increase in EBIT by EUR 6.1 million is primarily due to the substantial rise in the gross margin, which is expected to reach 44.5 % (2023: 42.1 %). Productivity and efficiency improvements in production, positive product mix effects, and slightly declining procurement costs had a positive impact on earnings, while strategy-related adjustments to the organization in sales and marketing, as well as increased container prices, weighed on the result during the reporting period. Nevertheless, the EBIT margin increased significantly to 4.7 % (2023: 2.3 %).

Group free cash flow increased by EUR 2.1 million to EUR 14.2 million according to preliminary calculations (2023: EUR 12.1 million). Despite increased investments in manufacturing efficiency, the significant improvement in profitability and the optimization of working capital led to this increase.

In the 2024 financial year, the Leifheit Group generated turnover of EUR 259.2 million on a preliminary basis. This corresponds to a slight increase in turnover of 0.4 % compared to the previous year’s figure of EUR 258.3 million. The persistently weak economic growth in the euro area, along with subdued consumer sentiment, continued to create challenging market conditions in the Leifheit Group’s key core markets. In addition, targeted strategic streamlining of the product range dampened the turnover trend in the reporting period. Nevertheless, the growing e-commerce business, the expansion of distribution in DIY stores, and marketing activities for high-margin bestsellers from the core categories Cleaning and Laundry Care contributed to the positive sales development.

Alexander Reindler, Chairman of the Board of Management of Leifheit AG, explains: “The year 2024 was all about the comprehensive corporate strategy we developed, ‘LEADING WITH FOCUS. CREATING SUSTAINABLE VALUE’, with which we have set the course for greater growth and profitability of the Leifheit Group. Although necessary optimizations in the organisation had a negative impact on the result, we have already succeeded in making our business significantly more profitable and doubling the operating result. Progress in productivity and efficiency as well as cost reductions within the Group have contributed significantly to this. From a sales perspective, our clear digital strategy enabled us to better tap into the significant potential in e-commerce and stationary trade across our European core markets, as demonstrated by the strong sales growth in our core market, France. The consistent focus on key levers in our business is therefore having an impact and provides an incentive to drive this forward.”

In the domestic market of Germany, which was particularly affected by weak consumer sentiment, turnover decreased by 5.6 % from EUR 103.7 million to EUR 97.8 million in the 2024 financial year. In Central Europe, however, the Leifheit Group was able to increase turnover by 2.4 % to EUR 117.1 million in 2024 (2023: EUR 114.4 million). In the Eastern Europe sales region, the Leifheit Group also significantly increased sales by 7.7 % to EUR 37.6 million in 2024 (2023: EUR 34.9 million). In non-European markets, turnover increased by 25.3 % to EUR 6.7 million in 2024 (2023: EUR 5.3 million).

In the strategically most important Household segment, featuring the Leifheit brand, turnover grew from EUR 211.9 million in the previous year to EUR 213.5 million in 2024. In the significantly smaller Wellbeing segment, featuring the Soehnle brand, sales declined from EUR 16.4 million to EUR 14.7 million due to adjustments made to the product range. In the Private Label segment, comprising the French subsidiaries Birambeau and Herby, turnover increased to EUR 31.0 million in 2024, compared to EUR 30.0 million in the previous year.

The final figures for the 2024 financial year and the outlook for 2025 will be published by Leifheit in the full annual report on 9 April 2025, available at https://www.leifheit-group.com/en/investor-relations/reports-and-presentations/.

The latest images are available for download at https://www.leifheit-group.com/en/press/media-library/.

About Leifheit

Leifheit AG, founded in 1959, is one of the leading European brand suppliers of household items. The Leifheit Group divides its operating business into the Household, Wellbeing and Private Label segments. Leifheit and Soehnle products – two of Germany’s best-known household brands – are known for high quality and great utility for consumers. Its French subsidiaries Birambeau and Herby are active in the service-oriented Private Label segment with a selected product range. In each segment, the company focuses on its core product categories of cleaning, laundry care, kitchen goods and wellbeing. The Leifheit Group employs some 1,100 people. More information on Leifheit is available online at www.leifheit-group.com, www.leifheit.de and www.soehnle.de.