Weak first quarter

AVA's DIY division completed the first quarter with sales down by 1.2 per cent, or 1.6 per cent like-for-like. Altogether the group's DIY stores recorded sales of € 220.1 mio. The pre-tax divisional result continues to remain in deficit. The loss amounted to € 12.0 mio in the first three months. Considerable gains have been announced by the group's Russian subsidiary, Marktkauf Rus. Its shopping centre in Moscow reports that sales were € 19.1 mio higher than for the same period last year, which indicates a rise of 11.1 per cent.