Net Sales Rise 7.4% for 2012 at Yankee Candle

For the year ended Dec. 29, 2012, total company net sales increased 7.4% to $844.2 million. Retail sales rose 9.1% to $490.2 million and wholesale sales increased 1.3% to $238.3 million.Sales in the company’s international segment jumped 14.2% to $115.7 million.

Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2012 rose 8.1% to $342.1 million. Retail sales increased 8.3% to $234.4 million, while the wholesale segment fell 3.7% to $64.0 million. Sales in the company’s international segment soared 29.7% to $43.7 million.

“We had a strong fourth quarter, with continued momentum from several of our businesses helping to drive solid top and bottom line results,” said Harlan Kent, Chief Executive Officer of Yankee Candle.”Positive comps in our retail stores combined with continuing strong performance in our Consumer Direct business helped deliver over 8% sales growth in our Retail division in the quarter.In addition, our International business had a strong recovery from the issues in the prior quarter associated with our new ERP system implementation, delivering year over year growth of 30%”

Kent continued, “For the full year, we saw sales growth in all of our business units and delivered solid Adjusted EBITDA despite the setback we experienced in our International business during the third quarter and the impact of Super Storm Sandy on our Fundraising business in the fourth quarter.We believe that this performance and the momentum we are seeing is due in large part to the traction we are gaining from the investments we have made in our strategic growth businesses such as Consumer Direct, International and Fundraising, all of which performed well in 2012, together with our ongoing investments in consumer insights, digital marketing, talent and infrastructure.We also continued to prudently manage cost and our working capital in 2012, seeking to optimize our strong free cash flow while continuing to invest appropriately in the business.”