2019 First quarter revenue - Very good performance in the first quarter

Group revenue in the first quarter of 2019: €3,785.3 million
up 21.9% as reported
up 17.5% on a comparable basis

 

“Delivering a solid start to 2019, Kering continued to outperform. On top of very strong increases in the first quarter of last year, Gucci, Saint Laurent and our Other Houses all posted excellent revenue growth, fueled by the creativity of their offers and the innovativeness of their execution. As Bottega Veneta implements a fundamental reset, early indicators are highly encouraging. The agility we have put at the heart of our organization positions us well to continue achieving steady, sustainable and profitable growth.”

François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

•    Sharp growth in Gucci sales (up 20.0% on a comparable basis) on top of very high bases of comparison. 

•    A very solid start to the year for Yves Saint Laurent (up 17.5% on a comparable basis), with balanced growth across all regions.

•    Contraction in sales for Bottega Veneta (down 8.9% on a comparable basis) and a promising response to Daniel Lee’s first creations.

•    Very strong momentum at Kering’s Other Houses (up 21.7% on a comparable basis), powered by Balenciaga and Alexander McQueen. Solid performances of Watches and Jewelry.

 

The Group delivered remarkable growth in consolidated revenue in the first quarter of 2019, up 21.9% as reported and 17.5% on a comparable basis to €3,785.3 million.

Total sales from Kering’s Houses (up 17.4% on a comparable basis) progressed in all distribution channels, with a 18.6% comparable increase from the directly operated store network. This upward trend was driven by growth in all regions, particularly Asia-Pacific (up 29.6% on a comparable basis). Online sales continued to climb, and revenue from the wholesale network grew 12.2% on a comparable basis.

 

Gucci: continuing sustained growth

 

On top of high comparisons, Gucci delivered a very good quarter, with revenue up 24.6% as reported and  20.0% on a comparable basis to €2,325.6 million. Both carryovers and newness saw strong success once again. Sales from directly operated stores rose 20.3% on a comparable basis, with excellent performances in Asia-Pacific (up 35.3% on a comparable basis) and sound growth in Japan (up 15.8% on a comparable basis) and Western Europe (up 11.9% on a comparable basis). The success of the collections was also reflected in the performance of the wholesale network, which posted a 16.1% increase in revenue on a comparable basis.

Yves Saint Laurent: strong growth in revenue 

 

Yves Saint Laurent reported revenue of €497.5 million in the first quarter of 2019, up 21.9% as reported and 17.5% on a comparable basis. The influence of the ready-to-wear lines, illustrated by the House’s iconic fashion shows, and the highly attractive leather goods collections fueled a 21.7% increase in sales from directly operated stores on a comparable basis. All regions delivered double-digit growth on a comparable basis, with solid performances from Western Europe, up 25.3%, North America, up 21.3%, and Asia-Pacific up, 20.9%. Against very high bases of comparison, the wholesale network posted an 8.2% increase on a comparable basis.
 
Bottega Veneta: contraction in the quarter

 

Sales of Bottega Veneta totaled €248.1 million in the first quarter of 2019, down 5.0% as reported and 8.9% on a comparable basis. Revenue from directly operated stores retreated, and the wholesale network saw a slight decline in the quarter. Daniel Lee’s hotly anticipated collections will be gradually available in stores from mid-2019. The very first creations launched in the first quarter in selected stores met with considerable success.

Other Houses: excellent growth momentum 

 

Revenue from Kering’s Other Houses amounted to €576.9 million in the first quarter, up 25.0% as reported and 21.7% on a comparable basis.
Sales from Couture and Leather Goods continued to rise sharply. All regions contributed to this momentum in the directly operated store network with double-digit growth throughout, driven by outstanding performances at Balenciaga and Alexander McQueen. The wholesale network also continued to grow. 
Jewelry delivered solid growth, thanks in particular to the success of creations by Boucheron, Qeelin and Pomellato. Performances in Watches were contrasted in the quarter, while new models unveiled at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in January 2019 were very well received.

Corporate and other

 

The “Corporate and other” segment posted strong growth in the first quarter of 2019, with revenue up 26.5% as reported and 21.5% on a comparable basis to €137.2 million. Growth was driven by the very robust performance from Kering Eyewear, which reported a 23% comparable increase in consolidated sales to €128.4 million, underpinned by the excellent performance of Gucci eyewear and the successful launches of the Balenciaga and Montblanc collections. 

 

About Kering

A global Luxury group, Kering manages the development of a series of renowned Houses in Fashion, Leather Goods, Jewelry and Watches: Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Brioni, Boucheron, Pomellato, DoDo, Qeelin, Ulysse Nardin, Girard-Perregaux, as well as Kering Eyewear. By placing creativity at the heart of its strategy, Kering enables its Houses to set new limits in terms of their creative expression while crafting tomorrow’s Luxury in a sustainable and responsible way. We capture these beliefs in our signature: “Empowering Imagination”. In 2018, Kering had nearly 35,000 employees and revenue of €13.7 billion.

Contacts

 

Press

Emilie Gargatte        +33 (0)1 45 64 61 20        emilie.gargatte@kering.com
Marie de Montreynaud        +33 (0)1 45 64 62 53        marie.demontreynaud@kering.com 

 

Analysts/investors

Claire Roblet             +33 (0)1 45 64 61 49        claire.roblet@kering.com
Laura Levy             +33 (0)1 45 64 60 45        laura.levy@kering.com

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