Press releases

• Strong profitable growth: organic net sales growth 9.7%, EBITDA up 17.2%
• Significant progress in company transformation
• Carbon footprint reduced by 3%

Lenzburg, March 21, 2025 – The Hero Group, on a mission to delight consumers by conserving the goodness of nature, posted strong growth and profit figures as the company concluded a year of significant transformation.

The Group reported an Organic Growth of 9.7% in 2024, following increases of 10.9% and 12.5% in the previous two years, with Net Sales reaching CHF 1.25 billion. In the year under review, the financial figures published in Hero’s Annual Report reveal that the EBIT before exceptional transformation effects rose to CHF 63.3 million (versus CHF 57.8 million in prior year). Net Income saw a steep increase to CHF 36.5 million compared to the CHF 11.0 million in the previous year which was impacted by significant transformation expenses.

“For the third year in a row, we can report strong growth. We are very pleased with our 2024 performance from multiple angles. Next to our strong financial performance we have outperformed the market in all our core categories and in the vast majority of the countries in which we are present. Further, we have implemented major steps in our transformation roadmap, including the closure and sale of two factories. Our results 2024 clearly show that the strategic decisions taken over the past years are bearing fruit.”” said Rob Versloot, CEO Hero Group

Baby & Toddler Food and Snacks remained the largest category, accounting for 39% of total sales, followed by Natural Spreads (20%), and Healthy Snacks (17%).  The Healthy Snacks category continued its dynamic development with double digit growth in sales (+17.2% organic) and volume (+12.2%).

“In 2024 we further strengthened the financial health of our company. After years of inflationary pressure on product costs, our Gross Margin continued to recover, reaching 32.1% from 31.0% in 2023. This was a result of our ability to defend price positions, realize supply chain efficiencies and a portfolio shift towards core categories.”, commented Dr. Karsten Boyens, CFO Hero Group.

“The Net Debt drop to CHF 209.3 million (222.2 in prior year) in combination with an EBITDA increase to CHF 110.3 million (94.1 in prior year) led to a strong improvement in our Net Debt / EBITDA ratio, coming down to 1.9x compared to 2.4x in 2023,” Dr Boyens continued.

The year under review was marked by the implementation of major transformation projects with the closure of factories in Sweden and Switzerland, the sale of the Group’s Gluten Free business, and discontinuation of non-core production lines in the US and Spanish facilities. The Group also acquired the company with the fast-growing UK brand Deliciously Ella.

With regards Sustainability, the Group managed to reduce its carbon footprint by 3%, with significant reductions in Scopes 1-2 emissions by 16%. We have also implemented important changes in how we conduct our business. These changes will allow us to deliver our goal of becoming a net zero carbon business by 2050.

Hero Group CEO Rob Versloot concluded: “We believe the company is now on a stronger footing thanks to difficult decisions we took at the right time on our transformation and strategy moving forward.”

On behalf of the Group, he thanked the employees for the work they had done throughout the year. He also expressed his gratitude to employees affected by the transformation measures, which he described as difficult decisions required to ensure long-term competitiveness.

The Hero Group Annual Report can be accessed here.

About Hero Group
The Hero Group is a global food company focused on branded nutritional food products. The company was founded in 1886 in Lenzburg, Switzerland, where its headquarters are still located today. Hero's main product categories of Baby & Toddler Food and Snacks, Natural Spreads, and Healthy Snacks are complemented by its activities in Baby & Toddler Milk and Specialties. The Group, which lives by its mission to delight consumers by conserving the goodness of nature, boasts a global footprint and its portfolio consists of many well-known international and local brands. In 2024, the Group generated revenues of CHF 1.25 billion.

Media contact
Stephen Chetcuti
stephen.chetcuti@hero.ch