Bricorama invests heavily in advertising

Bricorama, the French DIY retailer, increased its sales by 6.1 per cent to € 299.2 mio in the first six months of 2003. The stores in the Benelux states accounted for 29 per cent of the total. Here the company recorded growth of 16 per cent, whereas an increase of only 2.58 per cent was achieved in France. According to information from the company, the Benelux outlets also contributed a decisive share to the 13.80 per cent increase in net profit to € 9.9 mio. Apparently the advertising efforts undertaken in France to revive trade have had an adverse effect on profits there.