Double-digit growth

The operators of DIY stores among the world's 250 biggest retailers were able to increase their sales by 10.5 per cent in 2005. It emerges from the study, "Global Powers of Retailing 2007" by Deloitte, auditors and consultants, that their net earnings rose by 5.7 per cent. The study also lists the 50 most rapidly growing retail companies. These include several DIY retailers: Cencosud (Chile), Massmart (South Africa), Wesfarmers/Bunnings (Australia), Falabella (Chile), Lowe's (USA) and Leroy Merlin (France).