Globus in the black

According to information from the company at group level, Globus of St. Wendel, Germany, attained a sales increase of two per cent to € 4.24 bn in the last financial year. An annual surplus of 1.7 was achieved based on EBIT of 3.6 per cent. The particularly positive news here, in the view of Thomas Bruch, the company's managing partner, is that success has been achieved in all corporate operating areas. "Our hypermarkets have gained in inner strength and sharpened their profile within the competition. The DIY stores have succeeded in holding their own within a demanding competitive environment so that, according to the much-quoted survey from the Commerzbank, they number among the most efficient companies in the DIY retail sector. Developments abroad have also been successful: in the Czech Republic, Globus has seen gross sales growth of 2.0 per cent in same-store terms and constant currencies. Good progress is also being made in setting up the company in Russia. The opening of the first hypermarket at Shelkovo near Moscow is scheduled for late 2006.