•    Net sales for the first quarter amounted to SEK 1,084m (1,043). Operating profit was SEK 6m (77).

•    Underlying net sales growth for the Group was –1.8 per cent. The decrease is mainly due to weak market conditions.

•    Underlying EBITA, excluding items affecting comparability and changes in exchange rates, amounted to SEK 50m (74). The decrease is mainly due to higher raw material costs that have not yet been fully compensated by price increases.

•    Cash flow from operating activities amounted to SEK 117m (140) despite a substantial decrease in operating profit.

•    The merger between Cloetta and LEAF was successfully completed on 16 February 2012.

-    The first quarter of the year was both rewarding and challenging. Rewarding since the merger between Cloetta and LEAF was successfully completed, and challenging mainly due to the soft market conditions and continued higher raw material costs, says Bengt Baron, CEO of Cloetta.

-    In the past six months, our primary...