03/31/2022 21:27 (act 03/31/2022 21:27)
Pfanner’s fruit juice managed to increase its sales in 2021. © Panner fruit juice
Vorarlberg’s fruit juice and iced tea producer Pfanner has grown strongly in the past year despite the corona pandemic.
With sales of 329 million euros, the figure for 2020 (302 million euros) was exceeded by 8.9%. The family business cited positive brand development in key markets as a success factor. This year, we faced strained logistics chains and price increases. Traditionally, Pfanner does not provide any information about the outcome.
Austrian market hit hard by the pandemic
With regard to sales growth, Managing Director Peter Pfanner referred to “positive sales figures in the main markets of Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic and Romania”. In addition to a good development in the brand business, the strong growth in the private label and co-packing areas also ensured the increase in sales. “At the same time, new competitors are livening up the market, which in turn favors a dynamic environment,” said Pfanner, addressing the general growth of the German iced tea market. The Austrian business, on the other hand, has been hit hard by the measures related to the pandemic, and the restrictions on the catering business were “strongly felt”, he said. The overall positive result is a result of the strong export position, Pfanner pointed to the stable export rate of 83%.
“Challenges Continue”
The company was not spared from strained logistics chains and from the fourth quarter of 2021 energy prices skyrocketed. As a result, it had to face cost increases along the entire value chain and be exposed to bottlenecks and delivery delays. “These challenges will continue into the current financial year,” he said. According to Pfanner, an outlook for the current year is difficult, among other things, due to continued increases in costs and associated effects. In the meantime, however, the modernization of the plants is being carried out. As in the previous year, this year 15 million euros will be invested.
Fruit juice and iced tea producer Pfanner has production facilities in Lauterach, Enns, Reinbek/Hamburg, Policoro, Italy, and Bar (Ukraine). When asked about the situation at the production facility in Ukraine, there is currently no public comment on protecting employees there, Pfanner said. The fruit juice producer has a total of twelve subsidiaries in Europe. Of the 1,000 employees, 450 are employed in Austria.