The European rally goes on

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This year Fressnapf will open 40 stores in Germany and the same number abroad. From 2009 onwards, Fressnapf boss Torsten Toeller expects that his company will open more stores abroad than at home. Fressnapf is targeting its efforts on France in particular, with eight new openings scheduled this year alone – more than in any other country outside the German-speaking region. And Europe’s leading speciality chain intends to open as many as 16 new stores in the coming year. There are also plans to open XXL stores (stores with a bigger range that also offer contact with live animals) for the first time in France. These will be surrounded by classic Fressnapf branches. In Spain, too, Fressnapf aims to trial XXL stores along with classic branches, city shops and stores in shopping malls. The chain currently operates four stores in Spain, and leases have been signed on premises for a further four. Torsten Toeller’s goal in the short term is ten test stores. On the basis of the test results the company will then decide which marketing concepts are preferably to be used in Spain in the future. Fressnapf regards itself as still being in a test phase in Italy also, where five stores are trading at present. Plans are in hand for five further stores there in the next twelve months. In Belgium, where Fressnapf recently acquired the majority holding in Zoomart (as reported in Pet in Europe), the 21 stores presently operating are to be tailored more closely than before to the Fressnapf concept. Last year Zoomart’s sales were € 19.7 mio, and the aim this year is to increase this figure to € 23 mio. Fressnapf is looking to open 100 outlets in Belgium and thus occupy the top slot in the pet supplies retail trade there. In Austria, Fressnapf’s most successful foreign market, the company operates 82 stores at the moment. It also launched its secondary brand Megazoo there this year. The Megazoo outlets are themed stores with a wide, in-depth range of products plus a wide variety of pets. Fressnapf is also testing out a city concept in Vienna. This concept embraces small retail areas. In Hungary Fressnapf has 17 outlets, eight of which are in Budapest. The chain is in the process of establishing stores in medium-sized Hungarian cities, and is also planning to open XXL stores in the next few months here. In Denmark, on the other hand, expansion is to be based on the classic Fressnapf concept due to the above-average cost of leasing…