Positive sales trend

Wickes, the British DIY chain that is part of the Travis Perkins building materials group, can look back on 2007 as a successful year. Sales rose by 9.8 per cent on the previous year to £ 932.5 mio (€ 1.216 bn), and were 5.5 per cent up in like-for-like terms. The group reveals an operating profit up by 14.7 per cent to £ 62.2 mio (€ 81.1 mio). The chain had 185 DIY stores in operation at the end of 2007, following six new openings and three refurbishments. It claims to have increased its sales area by 6 per cent. Further DIY stores are to be refurbished in 2008, in an effort that involves changing storage space into sales area, and adding mezzanine floors.