Switzerland’s Orior has lowered its forecast for annual sales on the back of “volatile” pork prices and the recent hot weather in Europe. <\/p>\n
The food-and-drinks group was already projecting a decline in sales and its forecast has worsened. <\/p>\n
In a stock-exchange filing yesterday (25 August), Orior reported a 7.1% fall in net sales and a 5.7% decline organically, a result the company described as “in line with expectations”. <\/p>\n
Nonetheless, Orior, home to brands including Rapelli charcuterie and Biotta juices, is forecasting a 6-8% decline in annual organic sales compared to its previous projection of a 3-6% decrease. Last year, the company’s sales by that metric fell 1.5%. <\/p>\n
“Orior looks to the second half of 2026 with confidence,” the company insisted. <\/p>\n
However, the business described the trading environment as “challenging”. It said “disruptions in the Swiss retail market, volatile pork prices and adverse weather conditions continue to weigh on revenue development”. <\/p>\n
The company added: “In particular, prolonged periods of hot weather have led to shifts in consumer demand, while widespread barbecue bans due to the increased risk of wildfires have placed additional pressure on seasonal business. Against this backdrop, we are adjusting our full-year revenue guidance.” <\/p>\n
Orior said the export arm of drinks brand Biotta was “under pressure” in the first half “due to lost business”. In a presentation document, the company said “temporary raw material shortages weighed on retail sales”. <\/p>\n
The company does not disclose specific sales results for Biotta. The drinks unit is housed in Orior’s Convenience division, alongside food businesses Fredag, Le Patron and Pastinella. The division’s sales stood at SFr97.3m in the first half, down from SFr98.5m a year earlier. <\/p>\n
First-half group net sales reached SFr283.3m ($352.2m), down from SFr304.9m a year earlier. Sales declined “across all segments”, Orior said. Factors included “substantially lower” pork prices, the cessation of a supply contract in the Netherlands and the end of a “loss-making” deal in Germany. <\/p>\n
Improvements in procurement and “continued cost discipline” helped group profits, with EBITDA up 15.7% at SFr18.9m and EBIT jumping 88.1% to SFr7.7m. <\/p>\n
Orior said “adjusted” EBITDA fell 4.8% to SFr15.5m. Net profit more than trebled to SFr4.6m, helped in part by “the book gain on the sale of a non-operating property”. <\/p>\n