News In the wake of last year's boom, the Italian jeweller Bulgari enjoyed a perfect start to 2000. Sales for the first quarter soared to 122.6 million euros, a year-on-year rise of 56%. These produced an operating profit of 23.0 million euros (5.5 million in the first quarter of 1999) and a net profit of 12.6 million euros, compared to a slight loss of 0.6 million for the same period last year.
Sales increased in every product category and on every market. Growth was particularly strong, how-ever, in Europe and the Far East, and in the jewellery sector, where sales more than doubled compared to the first quarter of 1999. Turnover per product for January-March was as follows: jewellery 35% (26% last year), watches 46% (47%), perfumes 13% (19%), accessories 4% (5%), and royalties 2% (3%). And per market: Italy 10% (13%), Europe 24% (21%), the Americas 21% (22%), Japan 22% (22%), the Far East 18% (17%), and finally the Middle East and the rest of the world 5% (5%).
June 07, 2000