Despite some difficult economic conditions last year, Lego A/S (HQ: DK-7190 Billund; www.lego.com), the Danish toy manufacturer recorded a significant sales increase in all international key markets. As a result group sales rose by 7% to DKK 11.43 bn (about EUR 1.54 bn). While the group posted a below-average growth of only 5.5% for central Europe, southern European sales rose by almost 20%, the largest increase reported in the group´s annual balance sheet.

Lego also mentions the positive development in the US and the Asian/Pacific market and the newly opened “Legoland” park in the south of Germany as reasons for the group´s boost in turnover. Part of the sales increases are also attributed to currency fluctuations.

At the company´s annual press conference, CEO Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen highlighted the fact that the toy manufacturer continued to improve on the negative results posted in 2000. Compared with 2001, pretax profits rose to EUR 85m, up 18% in 2002. While Kristiansen does not expect any significant growth in 2003, he predicts an annual growth in group sales of 10% and even higher profits for the next few years.

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Lego´s annual report 2002 as PDF document (1 MB)