La Doria sees export growth but decline in Italian sales

La Doria, Italy’s largest producer of peeled and chopped tomatoes, ready-to-eat sauces, preserved legumes and fruit juices and drinks for the private label segment, closed 2019 with total consolidated revenues of €717.6 million, up 4.3% from the previous year’s figure of €687.9 million.

EBITDA rose to €56 million (€52.8 million in 2018), while EBIT dropped slightly to €34.5 million (€34.7 million the previous year). Net profit also decreased, falling to €19.9 million compared to €27.3 million in 2018.

The company’s revenue growth was entirely attributable to international markets, where sales rose by more than 6%. Exports accounted for 81.8% of sales, while the domestic market made up just 18.2% (revenue down 3%).

As part of its 2018-2021 four-year plan, the company has continued to concentrate its investments largely in the UK, where its subsidiary LDH has built a major logistics platform. This structure will involve a total expenditure of approximately £47 million and will become operational in the third quarter of this year.

In Italy, investments have focused on expanding production capacity in the ready-made sauces segment with the implementation of a new production line at the Sarno plant.