The Calida Group closed the 2022 financial year with strong sales growth and record profits. The first six months were significantly stronger, Calida announced on Friday. In the second half, the “loss of purchasing power caused by inflation was clearly noticeable”.
The Swiss clothing group was able to increase its revenue by 8.5 percent year-on-year to 323.9 million Swiss francs (325.4 million euros). Adjusted for currency effects, sales increased by 14.4 percent. In online trading, the parent company of brands such as Aubade, Calida and Lafuma Mobilier increased its sales by 11.9 percent to 89.7 million Swiss francs and thus increased its share of total sales by 27.7 percent.
The individual brands were also able to generate positive sales. The Calida brand increased its sales by 1.8 percent (currency-adjusted +5.5 percent) to 155.5 million Swiss francs. Aubade achieved sales of 74.2 million Swiss francs, up 2.8 percent (currency-adjusted +10.7 percent) and the furniture brand Lafuma Mobilier achieved sales of 64.2 million Swiss francs, an increase of 9.2 percent ( currency-adjusted +16.8 percent) compared to the previous year.
The group was able to record a large increase in earnings compared to the previous year. Profit from continued operations increased by 43.4 percent to EUR 21.8 million. The operating profit (EBIT) adjusted for special effects from continued operations increased by 14.1 percent to 27.7 million Swiss francs compared to 2021.
“In the 2022 financial year, we managed to achieve a new record result in the history of the Calida Group,” said Timo Schmidt-Eisenhart, CEO of the Calida Group. “In an extremely challenging environment that significantly impacted consumer sentiment, we were able to increase sales by 14.4 percent and increase operating profit by 14 percent to a new record level of 27.7 million Swiss francs. This enabled us to gain additional market share in a declining market.”
Despite the continued difficult overall economic situation, the clothing group is looking to the future with optimism. The Calida Group is “well positioned to successfully pursue its growth strategy,” according to the statement. For 2023, the company is aiming for organic growth of four to six percent.