Danish toy company Lego on Friday reported a
24-per-cent rise in net sales for the first half of 2012, lifted by
new and classic products and said it planned to expand its workforce.
The net profit for the six-month period was 2 billion kroner (337
million dollars), the family-owned group said.
This compared to net profit of 1.48 billion kroner for the
corresponding business period in 2011.
Net sales were 9.1 billion kroner, compared to 7.3 billion kroner
for the corresponding six-month period in 2011.
Chief executive Jorgen Vig Knudstorp said the results "have
exceeded our expectations."
The group - which turned 80 earlier this month - said it was too
early to estimate the full-year result since the upcoming period with
Christmas sales were crucial for its business. The global toy market
slowed during the first half of 2012.
However, Lego recorded double-digit growth in its markets,
reporting a 23-per-cent rise in the United States and even higher
rates in Asia. In Europe the increase was on average 10 per cent.
The group estimated that it had an 8-per-cent share of the global
toy market, compared to 7 per cent a year ago.
To meet rising demand, the group planned to add about 1,000
employees to its roughly 10,000-strong workforce worldwide.
Mainstays in the product lineup include the classic plastic
building blocks as well as products and tie-ins with Hollywood movies
such as Pirates of the Caribbean and Harry Potter. A new bestseller
was a product designed for girls, Lego Friends, the group said.
