Swiss chocolate maker Lindt & Sprüngli has sharply reduced its forecast for full-year 2026 organic revenue growth, now expecting an increase of 0% to 2%, down from the previously guided range of 4% to 6%. The company confirmed its EBIT projection and held fast to its medium- and long-term targets.
Shares of Lindt & Sprüngli fell more than 5% in pre-market trading on Tuesday following the announcement.
The company attributed the downward revision to heightened consumer price sensitivity and extreme summer heat across Europe. CEO Adalbert Lechner said that necessary price increases, combined with a cautious consumer mood, led to lower-than-expected order volumes. The seasonal business was hit especially hard in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.
In contrast, Lindt & Sprüngli reported robust growth in North America and Asia.
Cocoa prices have declined from their historical peaks, Lechner said, and the company expects cost pressure to ease gradually in the months ahead.
For 2026, Lindt & Sprüngli reaffirmed its target to widen its EBIT margin by 20 to 40 basis points compared with the prior year. Looking further out, the company expects positive volume growth to return in 2027, supported by an adjusted pricing strategy, increased brand investment, and lower cocoa prices. Strict cost management will also contribute, though the company provided no further detail on specific measures.
Lindt & Sprüngli will publish its financial outlook for 2027 in the first quarter of next year.
On its medium-term targets from 2028 onward, the company confirmed a planned organic revenue growth rate of 6% to 8% per year, with the EBIT margin set to improve by an additional 20 to 40 basis points annually.
