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Sales by Germany’s Eckes-Granini Group – a major producer of juice and fruit drinks across Europe – rose 12.6% to €921 million in 2007, the company revealed today (14 May). Turnover of Eckes-Granini’s core business, excluding the company’s distribution partnership with Szentkirályi mineral water in Hungary, rose 12% to €899 million.

The overall growth was driven by increased sales in Germany (+8%) and France (+18%). The group’s value share across its seven key markets increased to 14.1% in 2007, from 13.7% in 2006. Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) were 3.7% up at €38.3 million, despite higher raw material costs and continued investment in market development.

“Thanks to the excellent performance of our strategic brands, we succeeded in raising both turnover and volume sales while achieving respectable earnings,” commented Eckes-Granini Chairman Thomas Hinderer.

Three key brands Volumes in the core business lagged behind revenue, growing 6% to just over 1 billion litres. Volume gains were led by the international brand granini (+6%), coupled with Joker in France (+12%) and Marli in Finland (+20%). Including 118 million litres of bottled water sold through the partnership with Szentkirályi, total volume was 8% up at 1.15 billion litres.

Eckes-Granini now employs a total workforce of roughly 1,500, and has sales and production subsidiaries in 15 countries: Germany, Austria, France, Spain, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Hungary, Romania and Russia.

The group expects turnover to grow more strongly in 2008, despite a slight decline in volumes and continued high costs for raw materials. Expansion will be achieved through a combination of organic growth, acquisitions and strategic partnerships.

“We have the required liquid resources, and are financially well equipped to meet the challenges of the future,” said Hinderer.