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Interviews
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It is a part of the social change that for many – especially
younger – consumers the significance of dishes, cutlery-
ware and glasses decreased compared with 40 years
ago. If you have the possibility to buy a coffee cup for 1
Euro at IKEA, you in an early age will not buy it from us
for 25 Euro. The worth assigned to this product some
decades ago, is now switched to maybe smartphones
or long-distance travels. There is no longer a separation
between everyday-life tableware and dishes for special
occasions, wedding-lists at the porcelain shop have been
outdated as well as the hope chest. In times of change
concerning this social transformation, China entered the
World Trade Organization WTO at the end of 2001.
In the sequel, the Europeanmarketwas floatedby cheap-
products of China. We are taking this development into
account in making single products more attractive.
Exaggerated, we are not concentrated on selling a set of
tableware for 12 persons on the one hand, but we have
smaller sets for e. g. 4 persons on special offer or single
articles which are suited for supplements to existing
dishes respectively cutlery or as a gift. On the other
hand with such offers, we are in line with food trends.
To which market segment do you assign the Villeroy-
products?
We see ourselves as a premium supplier, but are
affordable to the quality-conscious household.
Villeroy & Boch Group
Sales
in million Euro
2014
2015
766
804
Gross Margin
in million Euro
2014
2015
341
361
Operating Profit*
in million Euro
2014
2015
38
42
Net Profit after Taxes
in million Euro
2014
2015
24
27
*Operating Profit before interest and taxes, adjusted for special
effects
Key Figures
Operating Cash-Flow
in million Euro
2014
2015
51
34
Sales and Ebit*
Market Capitalization
(preferred shares only)
Status March 11, 2016
189 million Euro
Source: Company, Thomson Reuters
Table
(among others tableware,
glasses, cutlery
collections)
2015 in million Euro
Bath and Wellness
(among others washbasins,
bath- & shower-trays, toilets,
Bathroom fittings &
fixtures)
Villeroy & Boch Group
497
307
Sales
Ebit*
33
9