Givaudan has reported a strong start to 2025, with first-quarter sales reaching CHF 1,977 million, marking a 7.4% increase on a like-for-like basis. Despite global trade uncertainties, the company remains focused on innovation, customer growth, and navigating macroeconomic challenges.
“We are very pleased with the strong start to the year across business segments, customer groups and geographies, against very strong prior year comparables. With ongoing uncertainty in relation to global trade tariffs, we remain focused on our strategy and on delivering innovative solutions to help drive the growth of our customers. We will continue to ensure a high level of service and agility in navigating the challenges which the broader macroeconomic environment may present.”
Gilles Andrier, CEO, Givaudan
Sales performance
In the first three months of 2025 Givaudan recorded sales of CHF 1,977 million, an increase of 7.4% on a like-for-like (LFL) basis1 and an increase of 8.5% in Swiss francs.
Givaudan started the year with strong business momentum, delivering good growth across business segments and markets and maintaining its operations and global supply chain at a high level. Sales in high growth markets increased by 12.8% on a LFL basis, against a strong prior year comparable growth of 21.8%. Sales in mature markets increased by 2.6% on a LFL basis versus 5.5% on a LFL basis in Q1 2024.
With higher input costs in 2025, including tariffs, the Company is implementing price increases in collaboration with its customers to fully compensate for the increases in input costs.
Fragrance & Beauty sales were CHF 1,009 million, an increase of 9.8% LFL and an increase of 12.2% in Swiss francs.
On a business unit basis, Fine Fragrance sales increased by 16.7% LFL against a high prior year comparable growth of 16.8% LFL, whilst Consumer Products sales increased by 7.9% LFL against a strong comparable growth of 17.6% LFL. Sales of Fragrance Ingredients and Active Beauty increased by 7.7% LFL, against a comparable growth of 10.0% LFL in the prior year.
The strong sales growth was achieved across regions and customer groups, with particularly strong performance in the high growth markets and with local and regional customers.
Taste & Wellbeing sales were CHF 968 million, an increase of 5.0% LFL and an increase of 5.0% in Swiss francs.
On a regional basis, the good sales performance was achieved in all regions, with Europe growing by 7.1% LFL and South Asia, Africa and the Middle East sales increasing by 10.4% against a high prior year comparable growth of 9.4%. In North America sales increased by 0.5% LFL, versus growth of 5.0% LFL in Q1 2024, Latin America grew by 5.1% LFL and Asia Pacific increased by 6.1% LFL.
From a segment perspective there was strong growth in Snacks, Sweet Goods and Beverages and solid growth in Dairy.
Mid and long term ambitions
Our 2025 strategy, ‘Committed to Growth, with Purpose’, is our intention to deliver growth in partnership with our customers, through creating inspiring products for happier, healthier lives and having a positive impact on nature, people and communities.
Ambitious targets are an integral part of this strategy, with the Company aiming to achieve organic sales growth of 4-5% on a like-for-like basis and free cash flow2 of at least 12%, both measured as an average over the five-year period strategy cycle. In addition, we aim to deliver on key non-financial targets around sustainability, diversity and safety, linked to Givaudan’s purpose.
With average like-for-like sales growth of 7.2% for the period 2021-2024 and the continued strong like-for-like growth in Q1 2025 of 7.4%, Givaudan is highly likely to exceed the upper end of its average five-year sales growth target of 4-5% on a like-for-like basis for the period 2021-2025.
Our bold and ambitious long-term purpose goals are defined in four domains: creations, nature, people and communities. Our ambitions include doubling our business through creations that contribute to happier, healthier lives by 2030, becoming climate positive before 2050, becoming a leading employer for inclusion before 2025 and sourcing all materials and services in a way that protects the environment and people by 2030.