Raisio plc’s Interim Report January–September 2021

Raisio plc’s Interim Report, 3 November 2021 at 8:30 a.m. Finnish time 

 

Strong overall performance despite hot weather

FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN BRIEF

July–September 2021

• The Group’s net sales totalled EUR 69.5 (65.1) million, which signified a growth of 6.8%.
• EBIT was EUR 8.2 (9.8) million, which accounted for 11.8 (15.0)% of net sales. EBIT decreased -16.0% in relation to the comparison period.
• The Healthy Food Segment’s net sales totalled EUR 36.3 (32.5) million. EBIT was EUR 5.6 (5.1) million, accounting for 15.5 (15.6)% of net sales.
• The Healthy Ingredients Segment's net sales totalled EUR 41.3 (39.2) million. EBIT was EUR 2.9 (4.8) million, which accounted for 6.9 (12.2)% of net sales.
• The Group’s cash flow from business operations after financial items and taxes totalled EUR 6.0 (8.9) million.
• The overall effect of currency conversions was EUR 0.7 (-0,7) million on net sales and EUR 0.1 (-0.1) million on EBIT.

January–September 2021

• The Group’s net sales totalled EUR 186.1 (179.7) million, which signified a growth of 3.6%.
• Comparable EBIT was EUR 18.2 (23.3) million, accounting for 9.8 (13.0)% of net sales. Comparable EBIT decreased by -22.2% in relation to the comparison period.
• EBIT was EUR 20.2* (23.3) million, which accounted for 10.9 (13.0)% of net sales.
• The Healthy Food Segment’s net sales totalled EUR 105.4 (101.4) million. Comparable EBIT was EUR 14.5 (14.4) million, accounting for 13.8 (14.2)% of net sales. EBIT was EUR 14.4 (14.4) million, which accounted for 13.6 (14.2)% of net sales.
• The Healthy Ingredients Segment's net sales totalled EUR 102.5 (99.2) million. Comparable EBIT was EUR 5.8 (10.7) million, accounting for 5.7 (10.8)% of net sales. EBIT was EUR 8.0 (10.7) million, which accounted for 7.8 (10.8)% of net sales.
• The Group’s cash flow from business operations after financial items and taxes totalled EUR 21.4 (18.8) million.
• The comparable return on investments (ROIC) was 8.5 (11.8)% and the return on investments (ROIC) was 9.4 (11.8)%.
• The overall effect of currency conversions was EUR -0.2 (-0,9) million on net sales, EUR 0.1 (-0.2) million on the comparable EBIT and EUR 0.1 (-0.2) million on EBIT.

*EBIT includes EUR 2.8 million in other operating income for the sale of the receivable and EUR 0.7 million in expenses related to the corporate acquisition.

KEY FIGURES OF THE GROUP

CEO PEKKA KUUSNIEMI:

The preparations for the new strategy period have proceeded well. The management was reorganised at the start of August to correspond with the strategy's primary areas of focus, and a broader reorganisation involving codetermination negotiations was also initiated during the review period. The goal of the reorganisation process was to flatten the organisational structure and ensure appropriate resources for the demanding and interesting strategy period. In all our activities, we endeavour to ensure rapid decision-making and implementation on a broad scale throughout the organisation in a manner that is in keeping with our values.

During the third quarter, net sales grew 6.8% to achieve a total of EUR 69.5 (65.1) million. EBIT was EUR 8.2 (9.8) million during the third quarter and accounted for 11.8 (15.0)% of net sales. I am especially satisfied with the great development that has continued the whole year in the markets of the UK, Ireland and Poland. Month after month, an increasing number of consumers are finding Benecol products, inspired by our clear marketing communications and distribution channels. With regard to the acquisition of Verso Food in April, we have developed the activities and incorporated the synergies and, in a relatively short time period, managed to get the profitability of the business going in the right direction. Verso Food is now completely integrated into Raisio and its business activities are ready to help support growth during our upcoming strategy period.

In terms of weather, July was highly exceptional, which caused Raisioaqua's sales to take a negative turn after the initial success at the start of the season. Raisioaqua’s sales are strongly seasonal dependent, so when the sales volumes dropped by half during this highly crucial sales month, it ended up weakening what was otherwise an excellent review period for the Group. In practice, the development in all other business areas was very encouraging.

Raisio has invested strongly in its capabilities to develop and produce plant-based products. The investments have totalled near EUR 70 million over the past three years. The investments of the third quarter were EUR 8.9 (10.1) million, or 12.8 (15.5) per cent of net sales. The current year’s investments have so far totalled EUR 21.4 (23.0) million, or 11.5 (12.8) per cent of net sales.

The largest single investment, our entirely new and carbon-neutral facility producing plant-based products, was completed as planned, on schedule and within budget. During the third quarter, we launched the first carefully consumer-tested products from the new facility in the Finnish market. We brought as many as 13 new products under the Benecol and Elovena brands to the market at the same time. Their impact on the sales of the third quarter has not yet been significant, since the first deliveries to the chains took place towards the end of the period and more intensive marketing measures did not get underway until after the end of the period. We have good reason to expect our sales indexes to develop strongly within the growing categories for plant-based products.

Cost inflation has accelerated in nearly all fields and there has been a great deal of public discourse about the rising price of food. In Raisio’s case, the increase in the price of grain, in particular, has been primarily the result of the unusually weak harvest season. The price of vital raw material and ingredient in producing plant stanol ester, the cholesterol-lowering ingredient in Benecol, has developed in a favourable direction for us and become less expensive opposite to the general price development of raw materials. The global supply of this raw material, plant sterol, has grown considerably faster than the demand.

The development of our resolutely built strategy has proceeded as planned. The personnel have truly embraced the importance of working together and are supported through a common programme that will enable us to utilise all our resources to realise this strategy. I wish to extend my warmest gratitude to the entire personnel for their good work during these exceptional times.

OUTLOOK 2021

Raisio’s guidelines: In 2021, Raisio estimates that net sales will increase (net sales in 2020: EUR 233.6 million). The front-loaded costs accrued as a result of our growth investments will put pressure on our profitability in 2021 in comparison to the situation in 2020.

In Raisio, Finland, 3 November 2021
Raisio plc
Board of Directors

Further information:
Pekka Kuusniemi, CEO, tel. +358 50 537 3883
Mika Saarinen, CFO, tel. +358 40 072 6808

The information in this Interim Report is unaudited.

Raisio’s Financial Statement release for 2021 will be published on 9 February 2022.

RAISIO PLC
Raisio’s purpose is to make food which is good for Health, Heart and Earth. Our growth drivers and focus areas are Benecol® and plant stanol ester solutions, plant based foods, branded oat products for consumers and oat as raw material for industry. Our strong brands include for example, Benecol®, Beanit®, Elovena®, Sunnuntai®, Torino® and Benella®. In our products the focus is on well-being, health, good taste and responsibility. Raisio's values − courage, fairness and drive − guide us towards our targets. Raisio’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. In 2020, the Group’s net sales totaled EUR 234 million and EBIT was EUR 28 million. Raisio employs about 400 people. www.raisio.com.