Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Spruengli AG reported consolidated earnings results for the year 2012. For the year, the company reported sales of CHF 2,669.5 million against CHF 2,488.6 million a year ago. Operating profit was CHF 362.5 million against CHF 328.7 million a year ago. Net income was CHF 271.9 million against CHF 246.5 million a year ago. Operating cash flow was CHF 381.2 million against CHF 345.4 million a year ago. The Board of Directors of the company will propose to the Shareholders Meeting scheduled for April 18, 2013 a dividend of CHF 575 per registered share (CHF 535 from a withholding tax-free distribution from the approved capital contribution reserve and CHF 40 from available retained earnings) and CHF 57.50 per participation certificate (CHF 53.50 from a withholding tax-free distribution from the approved capital contribution reserve and CHF 4 from available retained earnings). This is equivalent to a 15% increase on the previous year. The company announced the formation of two charitable foundations: L&S Cocoa Foundation and L&S Chocoiate Center: as part of a comprehensive realignment of the 'Fund for Supplementary Pensions of Chocoiadefabriken Lindt& Sprüngli AG', a sum of around CHF 250 million is to be transferred two charitable foundations: Lindt & Sprüngli Cocoa Foundation and Lindt & Sprüngli Chocolate Center. The Lindt & Sprüngli Cocoa Foundation is dedicated to the pursuit of social and ecological sustainability in the cultivation, production and processing of cocoa and other raw materials used in chocolate manufacturing. For many years, Lindt & Sprüngli has been actively committed to a sustainable and socially compatible value-added chain and is one of the companies present in terms of the long-term security of raw material supplies and fair working and living conditions for the raw material producers. Those aims are ideally supported and backed by the newly created foundation. The foundation Lindt & Sprüngli Chocolate Center wili be committed to provide industry-specific basic and advanced training for professionals and support young talents as the global outreach of the Swiss chocolate industry requires a growing number of specialists. At the same time, research into new production and processing technologies is to be conducted in cooperation with universities and other higher educational facilities. The last great invention in the chocolate industry dates back 1879 when Rodolphe Lindt developed the conching process. Another aim of the foundation is to open a chocolate museum as a forum for the general public on the subject of chocolate.

Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Spruengli AG announced the introduction of three new product innovations -- the LINDOR Caramel truffles and the EXCELLENCE Wasabi and EXCELLENCE Strawberry bars. Building on the company's rich history of creating original and delicious premium chocolate with both unique and classic flavors, each product recipe was developed by the Master Chocolatiers at Lindt, creating chocolate beyond compare. This season of love, Lindt is also offering premium chocolate gifts from the heart, including the new Gourmet Truffles Gift Heart and irresistibly smooth LINDOR truffles, which are perfect Valentine's Day sweets. Carefully crafted by Lindt Master Chocolatiers, each of the new innovations provides an everyday chocolate experience that is truly beyond compare. The team of Lindt Master Chocolatiers around the world work together to analyze flavor trends and combine the world's finest ingredients and artisan-like craftsmanship, with strict quality control tests, and innovative recipes to create the ultimate chocolate-tasting experience. The resulting products include LINDOR Caramel - A milk chocolate shell infused with caramel, which enrobes an irresistibly smooth caramel milk chocolate center (CHF 3.99). EXCELLENCE Wasabi - Silky smooth 47% cocoa dark chocolate with a rich brown color and intense aroma, subtly spiced with a touch of wasabi flavor (CHF 2.59). EXCELLENCE Strawberry - A perfectly balanced taste of smooth 47% cocoa dark chocolate with a rich brown color and pleasant fruit aroma, enhanced with naturally sweet strawberry pieces (CHF 2.59).

Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Spruengli AG reported consolidated sales results for the full year of 2012. For the period, the company reported consolidated annual sales of CHF 2.670 billion. Organic growth is mainly attributable to substantially higher volumes. The Group expects its operating profit to advance even more strongly than sales growth. The operating margin increase will therefore reach the upper end of the 20 to 40 basis point range announced previously.