"Opportunities for furthe growth exist"

Download: "Opportunities for further growth exist" (PDF file)"How high do you estimate the number of aquarium hobbyists to be in Europe?Unfortunately, we are in a segment in which reliable market data scarcely exists, especially at European level. We therefore have to rely in practice on qualitative estimates. Depending on the source, however, these can vary wildly. We assume that there are roughly 20 million households in Europe with at least one aquarium.Is this figure rising or falling?Taken as a consolidated figure, the number of aquarists is certainly on the increase. We assume healthy single-digit growth, but there are quite significant differences between the established markets and the so-called growth markets.In which countries is the aquatics segment developing positively and in which is there a declining trend?In most European countries, development is pretty flat and lies within a window of perhaps -2 to +2 per cent. This is especially true of the established markets in central and western Europe. In the three major marketsof Germany, France and the UK in particular, we cannot assume any appreciable growth. On the other hand, the countries of eastern Europe are developing quite positively, particularly those belonging to the CIS (editor's note: Commonwealth of Independent States, comprising the former Soviet republics).How do you assess this year so far from the point of view of the aquatics segment in Europe?This year too has followed on relatively seamlessly from the trend of the last few years. In 2008 we have not been able to discern any marked changes going beyond certain natural fluctuations.Which countries and regions of Europe do you still see as offering growth potential for the aquatics segment?Even though it certainly won't be an easy task, I can still see opportunities for further growth throughout Europe. Naturally, growth rates will vary, depending on how mature the market is - in strongly developing markets like Russia, growth will inevitably be different from that seen in markets that have been developing over a long period and are exhibiting saturation tendencies.But I also believe that consumers have a strong urge to take pets and a little bit of nature home with them - which also includes fish in aquariums. Even if fish don't fit the profile of typical pets that you can talk to and stroke. Instead, fish are kept in wonderful water worlds that surround them. Perhaps I am too much of an optimist, but I think that we have to…