Sales up at Swedish Match

Swedish Match’s sales for the year to the end of December, at SEK13,305 million, were up by six percent on those of 2013, SEK12,610 million.

And sales during the fourth quarter of 2014, at SEK3,536 million, were up by 11 percent on those of the fourth quarter of 2013.

Calculated in local currencies, sales for the full year and fourth quarter increased by four percent and seven percent respectively.

Operating profit from product areas (excluding net profit from SM’s share in the Scandinavian Tobacco Group [STG] and larger one off items) for the full year was up by two per cent to SEK3,446 million, while fourth-quarter operating profit from product areas increased by eight percent to SEK900 million. In local currencies, operating profit from product areas for the full year increased by one percent and for the fourth quarter increased by four percent.

Operating profit (including net profit from SM’s share in STG and larger one off items) was down by two percent to SEK3,780 million for the full year 2014, but increased by six percent to SEK992 during the fourth quarter. Basic earnings per share fell during the full year by three percent to SEK13.23 but increased during the fourth quarter by three percent to SEK3.55.

“I am pleased with our fourth quarter performance, and especially with our improving position in the growing value priced snus segment in Sweden which contributed to a more stable market share development in that market, said CEO Lars Dahlgren . “We continue to focus our efforts on building our snus business long term, striving toward our vision of a world without cigarettes.”