Garden centres flourish

Austrian garden centre operator Bellaflora expects an increase in  sales of about 15 per cent in the current financial year 2003/2004. With two new stores opening in the spring of 2003, the managing directors Gerhard Vogelsang and Nikolaus Thaller estimate a volume of approximately € 75 m in comparison to € 65 m in the previous year. New garden centres are planned to open in Regau and Liezen during the financial year 2004/2005, in addition to the 20 garden centres in Austria and the one in Germany the group already owns. Pet foods and pet accessories have also been included in Bellaflora´s range for the past two years.