Danish toy maker Lego, with Enfield operations, says its first-half profit rose 32 percent as its new products, such as Lego Ninjago, sold above expectations and it continued to gain market share, The Associated Press reports.
The family-owned company said net profit for the period January-June 2011 was 1.48 billion kroner ($288.3 million), up from 1.12 billion kroner for the same period last year. Sales rose 25 percent to 7.36 billion kroner.
The company, which employs some 8,360 people worldwide, is not publicly listed, but has published earning reports since 1997. It does not release quarterly figures.
Lego said that besides its Lego Ninjago, new sets like Pirates of the Caribbean and Harry Potter were also selling better than expected. Classic products like Lego City and Lego Star Wars are also generating strong revenues.
Lego said it saw double-digit sales growth in all its markets of more than 130 countries during the first half of 2011, except in Japan which suffered during the aftermath of the March earthquake and tsunami.
The company, based in Billund, Denmark, said it has increased its market share to 7 percent from 5.9 percent at the end of 2010.
