DIY business shows gains

In 2006 CRH, the Irish builders' merchant group, had a turnover of € 780 mio in the DIY retail segment, which amounts to an increase of 7.7 per cent on the previous year. As a franchisee of the Dutch Intergamma organisation, the CRH Group operates 125 Gamma and Karwei stores. CRH also has a 50 per cent stake in Maxmat in Portugal (22 DIY stores), and in Germany a 47.86 per cent stake in the Hagebau member Bauking, which either operates or has an interest in 55 Hagebaumarkt stores.