International success for Futterhaus

The German pet store chain Futterhaus increased its sales by 17.33 per cent in the 2004 financial year just ended, its 118 stores in Germany achieving total sales of 102.2 mio €. In the coming year managing director Herwig Eggerstedt anticipates that sales in Germany will increase by 18 to 20 per cent and by eight to nine per cent on a like-for-like basis. The company moved into its third foreign market after Italy and Austria with the opening of the first new store in France under the name “Pile Poils”. France will continue to be the focal point for foreign expansion in 2005. Plans are in hand to open a further eight to ten stores with the independent master franchise partner Guido Arnold.