The company held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on June 25, where shareholders approved key financials and reappointed several board members.
Zwack’s gross sales rose 5% to HUF 38.8 billion, bolstered by the growing success of its flagship Unicum brand and the introduction of limited editions like Unicum Trezor XO. Net sales climbed 6.9% year-on-year to HUF 24.1 bln. Notably, domestic net sales of own-produced goods rose 7.6%, with the premium segment seeing a 10.4% increase. However, wholesale volume declined in the final quarter, in part due to delayed Easter season purchases and dampened consumer spending.
Exports, a key focus of Zwack’s five-year growth strategy, grew 15.2% to HUF 2.53 bln. Countries like Italy, Germany, Romania, and Slovakia saw increased demand, aided by localized TV ad campaigns for the Unicum product line.
The company cited increased employee benefits, higher operating expenses, and expanded marketing efforts—including support for the nationwide rollout of Unicum Orange Bitter—as drivers of a 17.3% rise in personnel-related costs. Zwack also credited cost efficiencies and a shift toward higher-margin products for a 3.2 percentage-point gain in gross margin.
Despite fourth-quarter setbacks, the company ended the year with a profit after taxation of HUF 2.99 billion. Looking ahead, Zwack anticipates a 6.8% rise in net sales for 2025–2026, supported by growing real wages and continued export momentum. However, management warned that currency volatility, rising raw material prices, and potential regulatory changes in Hungary could present risks.
The AGM approved a dividend payout of HUF 1,500 per share (150% of nominal value), totaling HUF 3.05 billion, with distribution to begin on July 30. New board appointments include Csaba Belovai and György Guttengeber to the Board of Directors and Frank Odzuck to the Supervisory Board. Dr. Hubertine Underberg-Ruder was also elected to the Audit Board.
Chairman Sándor Zwack thanked departing board members and commended staff for their efforts in a challenging environment.
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