Turnover drops 1.5 percent compared to previous year

A. Darbo AG, Austria’s leading jam and honey supplier, presented its figures for the 2020 financial year at the company's shareholder meeting that took place today, 18 June 2021.

With a turnover of € 140.9 million for the year 2020, the Tyrolean family firm only narrowly missed the previous year's turnover of € 143 million.  In view of the pandemic, the management board is satisfied with this slight decline of less than 1.5 percent. The high export ratio, at 52.1 percent for the past year, also just narrowly fell short of the 2019 figures (52.5 percent). On the domestic front, Darbo marginally expanded its market leadership positions to 61.0 percent for jams and 31.3 percent for honey. In the current year, Darbo has to contend with rising raw material prices.

"Like many other food manufacturers, we faced exceptional challenges in the year 2020. We are therefore satisfied with our ongoing stable progression and regard the change in turnover as being in line with the general situation within the sector. We are proud and grateful that consumers continue to place their trust in our brand – especially in these volatile times. Our broad market presence as suppliers to the food retail, food service and processing sectors as well as our high export ratio provide security," reports Martin Darbo, director of A. Darbo AG.

Coronavirus year 2020 – rise in retail, decline in food service

While the share of turnover in retail products rose for the past year, there was a sharp drop in the supply of jams and fruit spreads as well as honey to the food service industry. Products for bakeries and patisseries also saw a slight decline, whereas fruit preparations for the dairy sector enjoyed an increase.

Export ratio remains high at 52.1 percent

Darbo's foreign market centres on supplying hotels, airlines and other food service customers. The company's export trade therefore was, and still is, more significantly affected by the pandemic. "The high export share was nevertheless almost maintained, with some positive developments in countries such as Germany and Italy," explains Darbo. In Germany, the company's most important export country, sales rose by 7.9 percent in 2020, which meant the German market contributed 31 percent to total sales. Darbo has a 5.2 percent market share in Germany's jam sector.

Meanwhile sales figures in China and North America, where food service products make up the lion share of sales, halved for the past year.

Darbo remains market leader in jams and honey

With a market share of 61.0 percent (up 1.4 percentage points on the previous year), Darbo remains Austria's market leader for jams, with reduced-sugar fruit spreads accounting for a significant part – as well as for honey with 31.3 percent (up 0.5 percentage points on the previous year). In the syrup sector, Darbo remains in second place with a market share of 14.4 percent (up 0.2 percentage points on the previous year). Here, hopes are being placed on the new Sicilian lemon flavour.

375 employees work at Darbo's three sites in Tyrol and supply retail chains, hotels, large bakeries, dairies, cruise lines and airlines in 60 countries.

"Quality and taste have remained confirmed success factors even during the crisis. But most importantly, our employees have demonstrated outstanding commitment and discipline in adhering to the special measures required for safely continuing work," emphasises Darbo.

Outlook for 2021 – raw material price rises expected to impact

Ongoing targets for 2021 are to maintain and eventually expand the high market share in Austria and to secure the continued supply in fruit and honey of appropriate quality. "The general price rises in raw materials are also having an impact on the raw materials for food products. Our customers can rest assured that quality will always be a constant at Darbo. For this reason, we permanently have to be prepared for price rises in purchasing as well as sales," Darbo concludes.