AVA maintains sales level

Preliminary figures for the 2005 financial year show that Bielefeld-based AVA (Allgemeine Handelsgesellschaft der Verbraucher AG), which is part of the Edeka Group, managed to maintain its retail sales of € 5.55 bn at the previous year's level. Apparently the Marktkauf DIY stores, which are undergoing a process of reorganisation, succeeded in keeping their sales stable by comparison with the previous year at € 1.06 bn. The company believes that the average to be expected for the industry is a deficit of around two per cent. Its subsidiary Marktkauf Rus, which has a shopping centre in Moscow, increased sales by 22.3 per cent to € 92.1 mio. The group's retail area saw growth of around 30 000 m² in 2005 to approx. 1.93 mio m² through new openings and store extensions.