Success for pilot stores

The Easy-to-Shop concept that Praktiker introduced to Germany in August 2006 with six pilot stores has proved successful, according to a statement from the company. Sales of these stores from September to December showed an increase of ten per cent on the same period the year before. Consequently the nationwide introduction of the concept is now to begin half a year earlier than planned. Twelve stores are to be adapted in early March, and a total of 67 outlets over the course of the full year 2007, though the original plan envisaged just 50 stores. By the end of the decade it is expected that more than 200 branches of Praktiker, amounting to 80 per cent of the total, will be run according to the new concept.