Strauss Group Announces Results for the First Quarter Of 2019, With Sales Stable and Profit Margins Rising

PETACH TIKVA, Israel, May 20, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Giora Bardea, Strauss Group President & CEO (TASE: STRS): "Strauss Group continues to deliver good results in the first quarter of 2019. Our product diversity and innovation, geographical spread and continuous efficiency enhancement processes have enabled the Group to post a significant improvement in profit margins, despite stability in overall Group sales. Our operations in most categories – Strauss Israel, Sabra-Obela and Strauss Water – delivered growth in sales volumes as well as profit margins. The joint venture in Brazil^[1] experienced some weakness in the quarter, mainly as a result of foreign currency effects and the drop in green coffee prices."

Strauss Group delivered sales of NIS 2.1 billion in the quarter, down approximately 2.8% compared to the corresponding period last year; however, in organic terms and excluding foreign currency effects, the decrease in sales amounted to 0.1%. As mentioned, the decrease is primarily due to the drop in revenue of the joint venture in Brazil¹.

Despite the stagnation in overall Group sales, in terms of profitability Strauss Group has delivered an especially successful quarter. Operating profit was approximately NIS 269 million, which constitutes 12.8% of sales and reflects an improvement of approximately 5.7% in EBIT compared to the first quarter of 2018. The main reason for the increase in the Group's profit margin is a significant improvement in margins in the international dips and spreads business, particularly in the US, and in Strauss Water in Israel and China.

On the bottom line, the Group concluded the first quarter of 2019 with a net profit of NIS 172 million, an increase of approximately 16.8% over the corresponding period last year. The improvement in the net profit is the result of the increase in the operating profit margin, as well as a decrease in tax expenses compared to the first quarter of 2018.

Strauss Israel delivered a solid quarter, with sales rising by approximately 1.3% to NIS 877 million. The company's activities in the quarter were mainly influenced by growth in sales of dairy products, such as the Danone Pro series, desserts led by Milky, energy bars and rice cakes under the Energy brand, Yad Mordechai honey, as well as Fun & Indulgence products. It is noted that in 2018 the figures for the first quarter also included sales data for the period preceding Passover. The Milky brand – which celebrates its 40^th birthday this year – remained as strong as ever, with the brand retaining its market share in the dessert category despite the launch of a rival product.

Strauss Israel's gross profit margin in the quarter was approximately NIS 350 million – 39.9% of sales – an improvement of 2.6% over the corresponding period last year. Strauss Israel's operating profit margin rose 2.2% to NIS 112 million. The increase in the gross and operating profit margins is mainly the result of the great diversity in the company's product offering, which allows for a product mix that targets different, and new, customers. The impact is reflected, among other things, in Strauss's aggregate share of the Israeli food and beverage market, which, according to StoreNext's^[2] figures for March 2019, was 12.2% compared to 11.9% in the corresponding period last year. In the current quarter, the Israeli food and beverage market dropped 0.6%.

Strauss Coffee had a challenging quarter with sales of NIS 894 million, reflecting a drop of 3.6% compared to the corresponding quarter last year excluding foreign currency effects. Translation differences into Shekels in 2019 had a negative impact on sales by the coffee company and amounted to NIS 59 million, of which the negative effect of the change in the average exchange rate of the Brazilian Real against the Shekel accounted for NIS 44 million. The decrease is primarily the result of a drop in the sales of the coffee company in Brazil, Três Corações – Brazil's largest coffee company and a joint venture equally owned by Strauss Group and São Miguel Holding Investimentos S.A. Sales in Brazil decreased mainly as a result of a reduction in sales prices following a drop in green coffee prices in the country. The decrease in sales in Brazil in domestic currency amounted to 4.1%. It is worth noting that Três Corações' market share grew significantly in the quarter to 28.1%, compared to 27.2% in the corresponding period last year (value market share, reflecting 100% of Três Corações' sales, according to A.C. Nielsen figures).

Coffee sales in Eastern Europe (Russia, Ukraine, Romania and Poland) also decreased in the first quarter of 2019. In total, the international coffee business decreased by 5.4% in the quarter in local currency. The coffee business in Israel grew 2.5% in the first quarter, mainly as a result of growth in the freeze-dried coffee category, which was relaunched in the quarter under the Platinum brand, as well as the espresso capsule category, which continued to grow.

Strauss Water delivered an excellent first quarter, with a considerable improvement in its operations in Israel and China. The company's sales in the quarter amounted to approximately NIS 143 million, compared to NIS 135 million in the corresponding period in 2018. Increased sales of water bars coupled with growth in the customer base in Israel contributed to revenue growth of 6% compared to the corresponding period last year. In China, revenue growth in the first quarter of 2019 amounted to 28.8% in local currency and was mainly achieved by increasing the number of stores, particularly in the Qingdao area. During the quarter Tami4 launched its new water bar for the business sector, and the Maze water purifier won the Product of the Year award for 2019. Strauss Water's operating profit in the quarter was approximately NIS 16 million (including the profits of the joint venture in China), representing 11.4% of sales and constituting an increase of approximately 67.7% over the corresponding period in 2018.

The International Dips and Spreads segment, which includes Sabra and Obela, delivered solid growth of 7.5% in the first quarter excluding foreign currency effects, raising revenue to NIS 192 million. The operating profit was approximately NIS 25 million – an increase of 118% compared to the corresponding period last year. In the US, Sabra achieved a record 61.3% market share in hummus. The company, which is active in the US and Canada, achieved approximately 6.5% sales growth in the quarter, mainly following the adjustment of prices in the North American market.

Obela's organic growth in the quarter was 15.8%, raising revenue to NIS 22 million. Growth primarily originated in the operation in Australia and New-Zealand. During the quarter a new manager was appointed for Obela's operations in Europe, with the aim of developing hummus's market share in Holland and Germany.

International Dips & Spreads figures reflect Strauss's 50% holding in Sabra and Obela.

Investor Conference Calls

Strauss Group will host an investor conference at the offices of the Company in Petach Tikva on Monday, May 20, 2019 at 14:00 (Israel time) to review the Financial Statements of the Company for the first quarter of 2019.

Investors can listen to the conference in Hebrew by dialing 03-918-0685:

Strauss Group will also host an investor conference call in English on Monday, May 20, 2019 at 15:30 Israel time (13:30 UK, 08:30 EST) to review the Financial Statements of the Company for the first quarter of 2019.

To participate in the conference in English, please call one of the following numbers as appropriate:

 From the UK: 0-800-917-5108

 From the US: 1-888-407-2553

 From Israel: 03-918-0644

The Financial Statements for the first quarter of 2019 and Investors Presentation are posted on the Group's Investor Relations website at:

http://ir.strauss-group.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=92539&p=irol-irhome

¹  Três Corações (3C) – The Três Corações joint venture in Brazil – a company jointly held by the Group (50%) and by a local holding company, São Miguel Holding e Investimentos S.A. (50%). (Data reflect Strauss Coffee's share (50%) unless expressly stated otherwise).

² StoreNext is engaged in the measurement of the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) segment in the barcoded retail market (hereinafter: "StoreNext").  

For further information please contact:

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SOURCE Strauss Group Ltd.