Food

Autogrill Cuts 2018 Outlook After US Labour Costs Hit Margins

By Dave Simpson
Autogrill Cuts 2018 Outlook After US Labour Costs Hit Margins

Italian travel caterer Autogrill said it cut its outlook for this year after restructuring charges and higher labour costs in North America dented its first-half results.

But despite "challenges" in the first half, the group will meet its targets for next year, CEO Gianmario Tondato said.

The company, which runs restaurants and coffee shops along motorways and in airports around the world, generates around half of its sales in North America.

In North America, the group's profitability, as measured by underlying core profit margin, fell to 9.4% in the first half from 10.4% in the same period last year.

"We are implementing actions to make our cost base leaner (in the United States)," CFO Alberto De Vecchi said.

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The group is confident that margins would partially rebound in the second half as it moves to adjust prices to offset wage inflation.

Overall Statistics

Overall the company, which is controlled by the Benetton family, recorded revenue of €2.1 billion, up 3.9% on a like-for-like basis.

Underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell to 1.3% to €140 million, with margin on sales shrinking to 6.6%.

The pressure on margins and restructuring charges will take their toll on full-year results.

The group said its 2018 underlying EBITDA was expected to come in at between €410 million and €420 million, barely unchanged from last year.

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Its underlying earnings per share (EPS) are estimated at €0.38-€0.42 for 2018, compared with €0.42 last year.

News by Reuters, edited by Hospitality Ireland. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.