Swatch Group's 2000 sales exceed CHF 4 billion

The quartet is now complete: the Richemont Group, LVMH and Gucci had recently and in turn announced record 2000 sales, and only the Swatch Group's voice was missing alongside. Well, as of today, Swatch catches up with the announcement of outstanding figures for the past year, as per the Groups' Press Release:

Biel-Bienne, January 31st, 2001 - For the first time sales at the Swatch Group have reached CHF 4,263 million, with a growth rate of over 30% in the top luxury segment alone.
Once again the Swatch Group has achieved a record result with a growth in sales of 17.6% compared with the previous year. Thanks to an improved consumer sentiment in Europe, the rapid recovery of markets in the Far East, a flourishing US economy during 2000 and the Group's reinforced position in all markets, sales rose to over CHF 4,26 billion for the first time in the history of the Swatch Group.

All sectors made a decisive contribution to this growth rate. It should be specially mentioned that, despite a high standard set in the second half of 1999, the Swatch Group succeeded in reaching a double-digit growth rate.

(...) Annual sales in the finished watches segment rose by +14.3% over the previous year as a whole, despite the particularly high standard set in the second half of 1999.
The driving force, with a growth rate of over 30%, was provided by the brands in the top luxury segment (excluding Rado and Longines). With a new management, innovative measures for both products and communication, Breguet achieved an above-average growth rate. Sales at Blancpain also increased at an extraordinary rate. A new addition in this segment is the brand GlashÜtte-Original. All brands showed excellent growth, the continuing marked success of Omega deserving special mention. The successful opening of the first Omega single-brand salespoint on the prestigious Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich was a further demonstration of this brand's strength and potential.