No more Praktiker stores in Austria

According to an agency report, Praktiker Bau- und Heimwerkermärkte GmbH of Vösendorf is closing down its four remaining stores in Vienna (2), Graz and Wiener Neustadt by the end of 2006. Management has entered into discussions with the company's employees so that the closing down of the stores can be made as socially acceptable/compatible as possible. The number of Praktiker stores in Austria that continued to be operated by Metro had already been scaled down in the past.