Second half-year problematic

Eurobaustoff Handelsgesellschaft of Bad Nauheim completed the first six months of 2007 with centrally invoiced sales up 15.12 per cent. According to figures from the cooperative organisation, centrally invoiced sales rose from € 1.576 bn to € 1.814 bn. The retail side recorded a 5.6 per cent increase of centrally invoiced sales, with the garden category as a whole achieving the greatest rates of growth along with hardware and electrical. Ulrich Wolf, chairman of the Eurobaustoff board, dampened expectations for the full 2007 financial year, but is convinced that the cooperative will clear the hurdle of € 4 bn of centrally invoiced sales.