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LEGO

Denmark’s Lego builds around inflation to post profit

Lego, the world's number one toymaker, said Tuesday that its revenue and profits rose last year as demand for its plastic bricks remained strong despite inflationary headwinds.

Denmark's Lego builds around inflation to post profit
A model version of Nyhavn at Legoland Billund. Photo: Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix

For 2022, net profit at the Danish firm rose four percent to 13.8 billion kroner ($1.98 billion) while sales jumped 17 percent to 64.6 billion kroner.

“These results were delivered despite extraordinary inflationary pressures on materials, freight and energy costs,” the company said in a statement.

Excluding currency effects, the sales gain was 11 percent. The privately-held company did not provide unit sales.

The firm, in which the holding company of Denmark’s Kirkbi family owns 75 percent with the rest being held by the Lego Foundation, said sales improved
in all markets and its market share grew globally.

“The company expects single digit revenue growth in 2023, ahead of the global toy market and will continue to accelerate investments in strategic
initiatives,” it said.

The company has seen continued success in the last two years even after no longer enjoying a boost from lockdowns keeping people at home, so far
withstanding pressure from inflation and slowing economies.

It has been buoyed both by sets based on franchises such as Star Wars and Harry Potter as well as home-grown hits like Lego Friends and Lego Technic.

Lego, which has completely withdrawn from Russia following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, has continued its strategy of opening more stores, with
155 new shops opened during the year, bringing the number of shops worldwide to 904.

The company, which employs some 27,000 people, has also been making major investments to reduce the climate impact of its products and operations,
including by manufacturing closer to consumers.

The group has just opened a carbon-neutral factory in Vietnam, joining already established ones in Hungary, the Czech Republic, Mexico, China and
Denmark. A new factory is also being constructed in the United States.

READ ALSO: Lego launches bricks with Braille

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LEGO

Denmark’s Lego stacks up profit as it gains market share

Lego, the world's largest toy maker, said on Wednesday that its net profit grew 16 percent in the first half of the year as it gained ground in a slowing market.

Denmark's Lego stacks up profit as it gains market share

The Danish company said its first-half sales rose 13 percent to 31 billion kroner ($4.6 billion) while net profit rose to 6 billion kroner.

“This growth has been driven by the Lego Group taking a higher share,” chief executive Niels Christiansen said in an interview with AFP.

The group, best known for its plastic bricks and whose name is a contraction of “play well” in Danish (“Leg godt”), launched around 300 new products during the first half, while continuing to see higher revenue from franchises such as Star Wars and Harry Potter.

The company also recently announced that it was forming a partnership with Nike to develop products and content together.

Sales rose the strongest in Europe and North America, but were slower in China.

“We will continue to build the Lego brand in China, to open stores. The potential is there,” Christiansen said.

The company is controlled by the descendants of its founder and is not quoted on the stock market.

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