Like-for-like in the red

The Canadian DIY group Rona recorded same-store sales in the third quarter of 2005 that were 0.9 per cent down on the same period last year. However, the DIY retail sales of the group's own branches and franchised stores altogether show an increase of 14.6 per cent to Can $ 832.84 mio (€ 595.03 mio). EBITDA rose by 20.1 per cent to Can $ 81.3 mio (€ 58.1 mio). Named by Rona as the cause of the poor like-for-like sales trend is the simultaneous renovation of six Rona Home & Garden stores in the Ontario area.