Strauss Group’s Reports First Quarter 2024 Results

The group’s revenues totaled c2.6 billion shekels, the operating profit was c204 million shekels, and the net profit was c159 million shekels

President and CEO of the Group, Shai Babad: “We continue to implement the group’s strategic plan, focusing on core activities and investing in the development of strategic growth engines that will drive the group forward in the coming years; as well as ongoing organizational efficiency and addressing the rise in raw material prices”

PETAH TIKVA, Israel, May 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — This morning, Strauss Group (TASE: STRS) released its financial reports for the first quarter of 2024, showing an increase in revenue, which totaled approximately 2.6 billion shekels, a rise of about 1.4% compared to the same quarter last year. The operating profit for the quarter amounted to approximately 204 million shekels, representing about 7.8% of total sales. The operating profit was impacted, among other things, by the significant rise in raw material prices, which led to a decrease of about 2.4% in operating profit compared to the same quarter last year. The net profit for the group in the quarter was approximately 159 million shekels, compared to a net profit of approximately 134 million shekels in the same quarter last year. During the first quarter, and as part of implementing the group’s strategy, the group completed the sale of the coffee company in Serbia for a sum of 38.8 million euros. Simultaneously, the group’s confectionery operations continue to recover with growth and an increase in market share. Additionally, in recent months, the credit rating agency ‘Maalot S&P’ announced an update to Strauss Group’s outlook from negative to stable and reaffirmed the ‘ilAA+’ rating assigned to the group.

Results

Q1 2024

Q1 2023

Sales

NIS 2,589M

NIS 2,554M

% change

+1.4 %


Operating profit

NIS 204M

NIS 208M

% change

-2.4 %


% of sales

7.8 %

8.1 %

Net profit

NIS 159M

NIS 134M

% change

+18.7 %


First Quarter Summary by Business Segment:

Strauss Israel – Increase in Revenue and Operating Profit; Market Share Growth 

Strauss Israel concluded the first quarter with revenues of 1,309 million shekels, a growth rate of about 1.7% compared to the corresponding quarter last year. The operating profit of Strauss Israel was 151 million shekels, an increase of about 2.3% from the previous year. Strauss Israel’s operating profit margin was 11.6%. Following the announced reorganization and as part of the company’s strategy, Strauss Israel now also includes coffee operations in Israel, which were previously part of the coffee segment. The sales in the Health and Wellness segment for the quarter were 731 million shekels, a decline of about 1.6%, with an operating profit of 74 million shekels, a decrease of about 12.2% from the same quarter last year. This decline reflects a reclassification of the energy snacks category, which, as part of the changes, was reclassified from the Health & Wellness segment to the Fun & Indulgence segment under the Snacks and Sweets category. Excluding this reclassification, the Health & Wellness segment grew 0.7%.

Sales in the Fun & Indulgence segment for the quarter were 361 million shekels, an increase of about 18.1%, with an operating profit of 42 million shekels, an increase of about 70.9% from the corresponding quarter. The confectionery category market share reached 26.6% in the quarter, a slight increase from the previous quarter. The Israel Coffee segment ended the quarter with net sales of 217 million shekels, a decrease of 8.7% from the corresponding quarter, and an operating profit of 35 million shekels, a decrease of about 8.7%.

Strauss Coffee International  – Increase in Revenue and Market Share Growth in Brazil 

Strauss Coffee International concluded the quarter with revenues of 954 million shekels, an increase of about 0.3% from the corresponding quarter last year. The international coffee operations ended the quarter with an operating profit of 38 million shekels, a decrease of about 36.3% from the corresponding quarter, among others, due to a significant rise in raw material prices. The operating profit margin from coffee international sales was 4.0%.

The coffee operations in Brazil concluded the quarter with sales of 645 million shekels, an increase of about 3.8%, and an operating profit of 13 million shekels, a decrease of about 56.3% from the corresponding quarter. Coffee operations in Russia and Ukraine concluded the quarter with sales of 129 million shekels, coffee operations in Romania with sales of 45 million shekels and coffee operations in Poland with sales of 103 million shekels. The average market share of Três Corações (value) in the roast and ground (R&G) coffee sector in 2024 reached about 33.1% compared to about 33.7% in the same period last year.

Strauss Water – Improvement in Tope line 

Strauss Water concluded the quarter with revenues of 193 million shekels, an increase of about 3% from the corresponding quarter, and an operating profit of 24 million shekels, an increase of about 10.2% from the corresponding quarter last year. The operating profit margin was 12.3%. The water operations in China concluded with good results and revenues of 216 million shekels for the quarter (in 100% terms), a growth of about 12.9% from the corresponding quarter last year, and a net profit of 27 million shekels, up 10.1% from the corresponding quarter last year.

Sabra and Obela – Market Share Increase in the US and Continued Growth Trend

The International Dips and Spreads segment continued its gradual recovery with an improvement in market share in the US and continued revenue growth. Sabra sales for the quarter totaled 110 million shekels (in 50% terms), a growth of about 4.8% from the corresponding quarter last year, and an operating profit of 6 million shekels. The operating profit margin from total sales was 5.0%. Obela sales totaled 20 million shekels, with an operating profit of 1 million shekels.

 

Non GAAP Figures (1)





First Quarter


2024

2023

Change

Total Group Sales (NIS mm)

2,589

2,554

1.4 %

Organic Sales Growth excluding FX

-0.7 %

7.9 %


Gross Profit (NIS mm)

874

837

4.3 %

Gross Margins (%)

33.7 %

32.8 %

+90 bps

EBITDA (NIS mm)

318

310

2.6 %

EBITDA Margins (%)

12.3 %

12.1 %

+20 bps

EBIT (NIS mm)

204

208

-2.4 %

EBIT Margins (%)

7.8 %

8.1 %

 -30 bps

Net Income Attributable to the Company’s Shareholders (NIS mm)

159

134

18.7 %

Net Income Margin Attributable to the Company’s Shareholders (%)

6.2 %

5.3 %

+90 bps

EPS (NIS)

1.37

1.15

18.6 %

Operating Cash Flow (NIS mm)

-115

-226

50.9 %

Capex (NIS mm) (2)

-163

-74

120.3 %

Net debt (NIS mm)

2,789

2,787

0.1 %

Net debt / annual EBITDA

2.3x 

3.1x 

(0.8x)

(1)  The data in this document are based on the company’s non-GAAP figures, which include the proportionate consolidation of jointly controlled

businesses and do not include share-based payment, mark-to-market at end-of-period of open positions in the Group in respect of financial

derivatives used to hedge commodity prices and all adjustments necessary to delay recognition of gains and losses arising from commodity

derivatives until the date when the inventory is sold to outside parties, other income and expenses, net, and the tax effect of excluding those

items, unless stated otherwise.

(2)  Investments include the acquisition of fixed assets, investment in intangible assets and proceeds from the sale of fixed assets.

Note: Financial data were rounded to NIS millions. Percentages changes were calculated on the basis of the exact figures in NIS thousands.

 

Non GAAP Figures (1)











First Quarter

Sales and EBIT by Operating

Segments and Activities

Sales

(NIS

mm)

Sales

Growth vs. Last

Year

Organic

Sales

Growth

excluding FX 

EBIT

(NIS

mm)

NIS

Change in

EBIT

%

Change

in EBIT 

EBIT

margins

Change in

EBIT margins vs.

2023

Strauss Israel:









Health & Wellness

731

-1.6 %

-1.6 %

74

-11

-12.2 %

10.2 %

 -120 bps

Fun & Indulgence Snacks and

sweets (2)

361

18.1 %

18.1 %

42

18

70.9 %

11.5 %

+360 bps

Fun & Indulgence Coffee Israel 

217

-8.7 %

-8.7 %

35

-4

-8.7 %

16.3 %

NM

Total Strauss Israel

1,309

1.7 %

1.7 %

151

3

2.3 %

11.6 %

+10 bps










Strauss Coffee International (2) 

954

0.3 %

-4.5 %

38

922

-36.3 %

4.0 %

 -230 bps

Strauss Water

193

3.0 %

2.8 %

24

3

10.2 %

12.3 %

+80 bps

Other (2)(3)

133

3.0 %

3.0 %

-9

12

-51.9 %

-6.8 %

 -4510 bps

Total Group

2,589

1.4 %

-0.7 %

204

-4

-2.4 %

7.8 %

 -30 bps

(1) The data in this document are based on the company’s non-GAAP figures, which include the proportionate consolidation of jointly

controlled businesses and do not include share-based payment, mark-to-market at end-of-period of open positions in the Group in respect

of financial derivatives used to hedge commodity prices and all adjustments necessary to delay recognition of gains and losses arising

from commodity derivatives until the date when the inventory is sold to outside parties, other income and expenses, net, and the tax effect

of excluding those items, unless stated otherwise.

(2) Fun & Indulgence figures include Strauss’s 50% share in the salty snacks business. International Coffee figures include Strauss’s 50%

share in the Três Corações joint venture (3C) – Brazil – a company jointly held by the Group (50%) and by the local São Miguel Group

(50%). International Dips & Spreads figures reflect Strauss’s 50% share in Sabra and Obela. Strauss Water EBIT figures include Strauss’s

share in Haier Strauss Water (HSW) in China (49%)

Note: Financial data were rounded to NIS millions. Percentages changes were calculated on the basis of the exact figures in NIS thousands.

Total figures for International Dips & Spreads were calculated on the basis of the exact figures for Sabra and Obela in NIS thousands.

 

Condensed financial accounting (GAAP)

First Quarter


2024

2023

Change

Sales

1,726

1,713

0.8 %

Cost of sales excluding impact of commodity hedges 

1,090

1,106

-1.4 %

Adjustments for commodity hedges

71

-53


Cost of sales

1,161

1,053

10.3 %

Gross profit

565

660

-14.5 %

% of sales

32.7 %

38.6 %


Selling and marketing expenses

353

330

7.0 %

General and administrative expenses

129

121

6.8 %

Total expenses

482

451

6.9 %

Share of profit of equity-accounted investees

36

45

-19.6 %

Share of profit (loss) of equity-accounted incubator investees

-2

-8

-70.1 %

Operating profit before other expenses

117

246

-52.7 %

% of sales

6.8 %

14.4 %


Other expenses, net

-50

70


Operating profit after other expenses

67

316

-78.7 %

Financing expenses, net

-17

-11

62.9 %

Income before taxes on income

50

305

-83.6 %

Taxes on income

21

-59

-134.7 %

Effective tax rate

-41.4 %

19.5 %


Income for the period

71

246

-71.3 %

Attributable to the Company’s shareholders

51

231

-77.9 %

Attributable to non-controlling interests

20

15

34.1 %

     

Conference Call

Strauss Group to Report Q1 2023 Results; Online Conference Call to be held Monday, May 27th, 2024 at 15:30 local Israel time / 13:30 UK / 08:30 am ET

Strauss Group (TASE: STRS) will host an online conference call to discuss Q1 2024 results on Monday, May 27th, 2024 at 15:30 local Israel time / 13:30 UK / 08:30 am Eastern time.

The conference call will be hosted by company management and will be followed by a question and answers session.

To participate in the online call please use the following link:

https://strauss-group.zoom.us/j/93795628461?pwd=Q29iZGxDMEpYcVVBVWk0ZjJ1aHBjQT09

Passcode: 641169

The conference call will be accompanied by a presentation which will be available on the Investor Relations section of our website on Monday, May 27th, 2024:

https://ir.strauss-group.com/company-presentations/quarterly-presentations/

Strauss Group’s Q1 2024 earnings press release and financial statements will be available on Monday, May 27th, 2024 following the release, on the Company’s website:

https://ir.strauss-group.com/financial/

https://ir.strauss-group.com/earning-releases/

A recording of the call will be available on the company’s website.

For further information, please contact:

Liron Ben Yaakov

Director of Communications and PR

972-54-609-1600

972-3-675-2584

[email protected]

Daniella Finn

Director of Investor Relations

972-54-577-2195

972-3-675-2545

[email protected]

Telem Yahav

Director of External Communications

972-52-257-9939

972-3-675-6713

[email protected] 

 

Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/strauss-groups-reports-first-quarter-2024-results-302155871.html

SOURCE Strauss Group Ltd

Featured image: I stock © gumapanat

Disclaimer