Slight improvement on previous year

The Mr. Bricolage group concluded the 2005 financial year with sales growth of 1.0 per cent to € 1.733 bn (gross). While the Mr. Bricolage stores managed to record an increase of 1.6 per cent for a total of € 1.595 bn, the Catena chain's sales went down by 5.9 per cent to € 137.9 mio. The Mr. Bricolage network saw its floorspace increase over the previous year's figure by 39 500 m² to a total of 1 127 420 m² following 13 new openings and 22 relocations or enlargements. Ten per cent of the 422 outlets at home and abroad have now changed over to the new concepts. The "Heart of the Home" stores achieved an 8.0 per cent increase in like-for-like sales. The group has announced a 2 190 m² reduction in floorspace to a total of 105 893 m² for the Catena network. Five new openings and four relocations and enlargements are balanced against 20 closures.