Strong growth

The Canadian buying groups increased their external sales in 2006 by 9.05 per cent to C$ 13.95 bn (€ 6,91 bn), the Canadian news service Hardlines Quarterly has reported in its latest issue. The total number of sites of affiliated members grew during this period from 1 948 to 2 095. The biggest competitors, the big boxes, only achieved an increase of 6.82 per cent in sales, Hardlines added.