World: Carlsberg warns stellar profit growth won’t be repeated unless weather shines again

Carlsberg has warned that 2018‘s stellar profit growth may not be matched this year, unless the weather shines again, wilcoxguardian.com reported on February 22.

The company expects 2019 organic operating profit to grow in the mid-single digits, below last year‘s 11 percent level.

Speaking to CNBC on February 20, the Carlsberg CEO, Cees ‘t Hart, said 2018‘s hot summer as well as soccer‘s World Cup in Russia had helped the firm increase its margin.

“The sun is always one of our best salesmen,” he said before adding that the blowout profit growth last year may provide a tough benchmark to match or exceed.

“In 2018 we increased our (profit) guidance twice but we started off with middle single-digit guidance which is what we are again doing for 2019,” he added.

The Copenhagen firm also reported better-than-expected fourth quarter sales fueled by strong growth in China.

Carlsberg expects to have a presence in 30-40 Chinese cities by the end of this year, compared to 20 cities at the end of 2018.

Cees ‘t Hart said Russia was no longer the firm‘s clear largest market following strong growth in both India and China.

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