Hornbach wants to press ahead with digitisation

With increased sales of 5.1 per cent to € 3.755 bn, the consolidated operating earnings (EBIT) of the German Hornbach Holding fell in the last financial year (1 March 2015 to 29 February 2016) compared to the previous year by 17 per cent to € 138 mio. The reason for this drop in earnings was a weak third quarter in 2015/2016 as well as non-operative one-off items in the fourth quarter, according to the financial statement.
"Despite the difficult business performance in 2015/2016, the core of our Group's operating growth is intact," emphasises Albrecht Hornbach, Chairman, Board of Management of the general partner of Hornbach Management AG. "Our stationary retail business is profitable and effective. We raised our surface productivity for the fourth consecutive year, setting a new record of more than € 2 000 per m² of sales area at the Group." On this basis, the company is continuing to invest in extending its digital strategy.
He is "convinced we are superbly prepared with our e-commerce strategy for the transformation currently underway in the retail world," continues Hornbach. According to the company's report, it has in total invested a triple digit million sum in expanding its e-commerce since 2010, almost € 50 mio in the last year alone and € 35 mio in the previous year.