Luxottica Group reports record $11.4bn sales for 2013 full year

According to the company, the result is attributable to “the solid organic growth which has been pursued with determination since the beginning of 2013 and throughout the entire year. We have closed another record year, achieving solid performances in 2013 across all of the geographic areas in which we operate, with peaks of excellence in erging markets and Europe.”Growth also continued in North America, where the wholesale division and Sunglass Hut achieved particularly positive results,” Mr Andrea Guerra, CEO of Luxottica, said. “Based on the strong increase in net sales, we expect that the growth in the operating profitability of both divisions will be aligned to the growth reported in the first nine months of 2013.”The wholesale division’s net sales for the fourth quarter of 2013 amounted to euro 644.2 million, marking an increase of 5.4% compared to the same quarter of 2012 at euro 611.3 million. The division’s net sales for the full year were euro 2.99 billion, compared to euro 2.77 billion in the same period of 2012, an increase of 7.9%.Total net sales in North America for the full year 2013 increased by 3.5% in US dollars, driven in particular by the outstanding performance of the wholesale division, which was up 6.7% in US dollars, the company said.The wholesale division as a whole grew each quarter throughout 2013, in particular, in erging markets and the travel retail channel. Europe also delivered solid results, with significant growth especially in Germany and France.