- Rational is growing
Rational, the leading kitchen equipment supplier, continues to grow thanks to strong business in Asia and America, putting it on track to meet its annual targets. In the first half of the year, the Bavarian MDAX company's revenue increased by 4 percent to €581 million, and its operating profit (EBIT) rose by 10 percent to €149 million. After taxes, the company reported €117 million in profit.
"We see a large untapped market potential for our products and services," said CEO Peter Stadelmann. The main driver of growth was demand in China and Japan: Business in Asia grew by 13 percent year-on-year, while North and Latin America saw increases of 6 and 7 percent, respectively. In Europe, revenue was slightly below last year's level. The number of employees grew to 2,660, with 1,500 based in Germany.
The board reaffirmed its outlook for the current year: Revenue is expected to grow in the mid- to high single-digit percentage range.
"Given the success in Asia and America, we are expanding our manufacturing facilities to meet the increased demand.""Expanding our manufacturing capabilities is crucial, as we aim to maintain our competitive edge in the growing China and Japanese markets."
