Chocolate-maker Lindt posts 14% rise in profit

Swiss chocolate-maker Lindt and Spruengli said Tuesday its 2012 first-half net profit rose 14 percent on the same period in 2011 to 36.6 million francs (30.4 million euros, $37.7 million) despite difficult conditions in Europe and the United States. The company saw gains in all key sectors of its business with sales up 5.3 percent to 1.03 billion francs compared with the first six months of 2011, it said in a statement. Earnings before interest and tax were up 16 percent to 48.7 million francs for the chocolatier, which indicated that its medium and long-term sales and profit forecasts remained unchanged. By the end of the year Lindt and Spruengli expects organic growth levels of between 6 and 8 percent, it added.