Kofola's sales fall to CZK10.75bn, EBITDA to CZK1.70bn in 2025

Ostrava, North Moravia, Feb 18 (CTK) - The Kofola beverage group's sales fell by 3 percent yr/yr to CZK10.75bn last year, and its EBITDA operating profit decreased by 3.2 percent to CZK1.79bn, according to preliminary unaudited results, the company told CTK in a press release today.

According to the company, 2025 was a challenging year. The results were affected by a new tax in Slovakia and the weather, which was the worst for beverage producers in the past ten years.

The company said it had not met last year's EBITDA target, but the outlook for this year was optimistic. Investments in storage facilities and production lines are expected to bring efficiency, and growth should also be supported by announced acquisitions.

Last year, the smaller divisions of the Kofola Group, UGO and Leros, performed well and grew. On the other hand, the group recorded a decline in non-alcoholic beverages and beer.

"A significant part of last year’s result – despite missing expectations, the second-highest in history – was delivered by cost-saving measures. These cannot be repeated every year. This year, some of the saved costs will return, and even with revenue growth we estimate the outlook for 2026 at EBITDA of CZK1.8bn – CZK1.9bn," CFO Martin Pisklak said.

Daniel Burys, CEO of Kofola in Czechia and Slovakia, noted that as a result of the introduction of the sugar tax in Slovakia, the company's sales fell by 10 percent year-on-year. With the tax coming into effect on January 1, 2025, customers stocked up at the end of 2024, which had an impact on the results at the beginning of last year.

"The sugar tax also increased prices for end consumers, which negatively affected consumer behaviour and purchasing in Slovakia. Lower revenues were also driven by unconvincing weather during last summer," Burys said.

The year 2025 was not a good one for the breweries belonging to the Kofola group either. "Revenues fell by just under 10 percent versus 2024, with virtually the entire decline attributable to exports. In the Czech Republic, we kept revenues at the 2024 level. Only the Zubr brand outperformed," said Rene Musila, head of the brewing division, which has been rebranded as Pivovary Zubr.

According to Kofola, the results in the Adriatic region were most influenced by the dynamic market environment, regulatory changes, and unstable weather. "The result in Slovenia is 2 percent lower than in 2024 and in Croatia 3 percent lower. Given the VAT increase in Slovenia in the first quarter and the consumer boycott of shops in Croatia, I consider this a great result," said Radenska Adriatic CEO Marian Sefcovic.

UGO's operating profit exceeded expectations. Its gross sales were the highest to date, reaching almost CZK1bn. "Higher revenues were supported by successful seasonal offers introduced throughout the year. Overall productivity also increased thanks to the packaged-goods division. Salads, wraps and other ready-to-eat meals began to grow year-on-year in the second half of 2025," said UGO head Marek Farnik.

The Leros brand, which produces herbal blends, teas, and coffees, exceeded CZK500m in sales for the first time. "Compared with 2019, that is more than double. In the coffee segment, the key investment for us is the new Lerostery roastery that we built in Straznice, Moravia. And thanks to the new acquisition of Nobilis Tilia, which we announced at the beginning of this year, we will be able to focus even more on herbal cosmetics," siad Leros CEO Martin Mateas.

Other significant investments last year included the construction of new warehouses in Mnichovo Hradiste near Mlada Boleslav, Central Bohemia, and in Rajecka Lesna, Slovakia. "Both projects should be successfully completed in the first half of 2026," Kofola said. In Slovenia, the group invested in the completion of a can filling line in Radenci.

Based in Ostrava, Kofola is one of the leading producers of non-alcoholic beverages in Central Europe. It has 14 production plants on five European markets and employs around 3,200 people.

The company's products, in addition to its namesake beverage, include the Rajec, Korunni, Ondrasovka, Klastorna Kalcia, Jupi, Vinea and Semtex brands. The group also includes fresh juice and salad producer UGO, Czech herbal mixture and tea maker Leros, the Holba, Zubr and Litovel Pivovary Zubr beer brands, Slovenian company Radenska and Croatian mineral water producer Studenac.

The majority owner of the group is the Samaras family and other Kofola founders, namely Rene Musila and Tomas Jendrejek.

Preliminary unaudited financial results of Kofola Group (in CZK bn):

Results are adjusted for one-off items.

Source: Kofola

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