Praktiker growing abroad

Sales by the Praktiker chain of DIY stores fell in the first quarter of 2006 by 0.2 per cent to € 717.7 mio (previous year: € 718.9 mio). While sales abroad rose by 16.5 per cent to € 157.6 mio, sales revenue in Germany declined by 4 per cent to € 560.1 mio. The strongest growth rates were reportedly recorded in Romania and Turkey, but sales also increased markedly in Greece. As a result of this, foreign operations accounted for 22 per cent of group sales at the end of the first quarter of 2006 (previous year: 18.8 per cent).