In a year marked by declining consumption, weak consumer sentiment, and structural pressure across the European wine trade, Hawesko Holding SE once again demonstrated its ability to outperform the broader market.
Based on preliminary figures for the 2025 financial year, the Hamburg-based premium wine trading group reported consolidated sales of €622 million and an operating profit (EBIT) of €26 million, corresponding to an EBIT margin of 4.1 percent.
While group sales declined by 3 percent compared to the previous year, this contraction was notably milder than the estimated 6 percent decline recorded by the overall wine market. This relative outperformance underlines Hawesko’s resilient business model and its diversified presence across retail, B2B, and e-commerce channels.
Segment Performance Reflects Market Realities
The B2B segment once again proved to be a stabilizing pillar for the group. Sales increased by just over 2 percent to approximately €203 million, driven by solid demand from gastronomy, specialist retailers, and premium distribution partners. In contrast, end-consumer segments in Germany were clearly affected by subdued purchasing power and cautious spending behavior.
Brick-and-mortar retail sales reached €226 million, down from €234 million in the previous year, while the e-commerce segment recorded a sharper decline of around 7 percent, with sales totaling €193 million. Despite these pressures, Hawesko managed to keep operating profitability almost at the previous year’s level, a notable achievement given the challenging environment.
Profitability Stabilized Through Cost Discipline
EBITDA amounted to €51 million, translating into an EBITDA margin of 8.2 percent. Although both EBIT and EBITDA declined year-on-year, the relative stability of margins highlights the effectiveness of the cost and efficiency measures introduced during 2025. These initiatives were designed to counteract declining volumes and rising operational costs, and they are already beginning to show measurable effects.
CEO Thorsten Hermelink emphasized that the company deliberately focused on optimizing structures and cost bases throughout the year, laying the foundation for improved earnings momentum from 2026 onwards.
Positioning for Market Consolidation
As market leader, Hawesko is well positioned to actively participate in the expected consolidation of the wine trade in Germany and Europe. With a strong cash flow and an optimized cost structure, the group has the financial flexibility to seize strategic opportunities while continuing to invest in innovation and customer engagement.
Source: Hawesko Holding
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