Record growth for Leroy Merlin

In 2005 the French DIY multiple Leroy Merlin increased gross sales by 15 per cent over the previous year to € 6.574 bn, excluding franchising. Over this period 24 new stores were opened, resulting in the overall total of outlets increasing to 308 in eight countries (France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Poland, Russia, Brazil and China). Company boss Damien Deleplanque regards the group's diversification into a variety of different trading formats as the principal key to this success. Large and medium-sized stores are included, as well as discount stores, added to which is the franchise business, especially with the Weldom retail format since mid-2004. "If we can produce better results than the competition it is also due to the fact that we listen to our customers better, and so are able to satisfy them," explains Mr Deleplanque. But he also considers that this success is based on the fact that Leroy Merlin is "a coherent and, above all, a humane company".