Acquisitions bring sales boost

The Canadian Rona Group's retail business recorded a positive year in 2006, with the group announcing sales growth for its corporate and franchised stores of 18.4 per cent to CAD $ 3.447 bn (€ 2.225 bn). A considerable proportion of this growth must be put down to company acquisitions. Organic growth (excluding acquisitions) is given as 4.1 per cent. Same-store sales growth amounted to 1.3 per cent. Operating profit increased by 17.7 per cent on the previous year to CAD $ 316 mio (€ 207 mio).