Baumax Group increases sales by 6 per cent

The Austrian Baumax Group succeeded in increasing its overall sales in 2006 by 6 per cent to € 1.16 bn. The group states that it has thus been able to consolidate its market leadership in central and south-eastern Europe. Sales increased by 30 per cent in Slovakia, but in Slovenia and Croatia the group only achieved the sales level of the previous year due to competition. Sales by Baumax stores in countries other than Austria accounted for approximately 50 per cent of overall sales. The number of paying customers rose during the last year by 2 per cent to 37.6 mio. By the end of 2006 Baumax had a retail area of 766 000 m², equivalent to an increase of 3.1 per cent. This is attributable to the opening of new stores in Romania, for example, as well as the enlargement of existing stores. In 2007 Baumax expects to increase sales by 8 per cent to € 1.25 bn and to expand the number of outlets from 124 to 135.